Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) and Risk of Gynecologic Cancer: A Nationwide Cohort...

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is now widely identified as a multisystem disorder with oncogenic implications that extend beyond liver-specific outcomes. Nonetheless, the link between MASLD and gynecologic cancers remains insufficiently characterized in robust, well-powered population studies. We investigated this association by menopausal status in a large cohort of Korean women.

We performed a longitudinal cohort study utilizing data from a nationwide Korean cohort of over 2 million women, with a median observation period of 12.3 years. MASLD, including its subtypes metabolic alcohol-associated liver disease (MetALD), and alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) with metabolic dysfunction were identified using the most recent diagnostic standards. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) for gynecologic cancers were estimated with Cox models, accounting for metabolic, reproductive, and lifestyle factors.

In premenopausal women, MASLD was associated with increased risks of cervical (aHR, 1.13, 95% CI, 1.01-1.26), endometrial (aHR, 1.63, 95% CI, 1.50-1.79) and ovarian cancer (aHR, 1.22, 95% CI, 1.12-1.33). In postmenopausal women, MASLD similarly conferred elevated risks across all three cancers: cervical (aHR, 1.12, 95% CI, 1.05-1.20), endometrial (aHR, 1.42, 95% CI, 1.32-1.54) and ovarian cancer (aHR, 1.14, 95% CI, 1.08-1.20).

MASLD should be considered an independent and modifiable risk determinant for gynecologic cancers. These data underscore the necessity of including hepatic steatosis in risk assessment protocols for cancer prevention. Early recognition and directed screening among metabolically susceptible women may provide important avenues for proactive cancer risk reduction.