[Hepatocellular carcinoma: Increase in incidence or future plague?]

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Oncology
• Public Health

Background:

• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer mortality globally, especially in Asia and Africa.
• Traditionally linked to liver cirrhosis from hepatitis B/C or alcohol abuse, HCC is increasingly associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
• NAFLD is driven by metabolic syndrome, encompassing obesity and type 2 diabetes, posing a growing threat for HCC development, often preceding cirrhosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the shifting landscape of HCC risk factors.
• To emphasize the growing role of metabolic syndrome and NAFLD in HCC etiology.
• To underscore the urgent need for public health interventions.

Main Methods:

• Review of current epidemiological trends in cancer mortality.
• Analysis of etiological factors contributing to hepatocellular carcinoma.
• Synthesis of recent scientific hypotheses on future cancer burden.

Main Results:

• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a significant global health burden.
• Obesity and type 2 diabetes, key components of metabolic syndrome, are driving an increase in NAFLD-related HCC.
• Projections indicate HCC mortality may soon surpass that of breast and colorectal cancers in the USA.

Conclusions:

• Public health policies must address obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.
• Continued efforts against alcoholism and viral hepatitis (B and C) are crucial.
• Proactive prevention strategies are essential to curb the rising tide of HCC.