Zhenqiu Liu1, Chunqing Lin2, Chen Suo3, Renjia Zhao4, Li Jin1, Tiejun Zhang3, Xingdong Chen5. 1. State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Human Phenome Institute, and School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China; Fudan University Taizhou Institute of Health Sciences, Taizhou 225316, China. 2. National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, National Cancer Center, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China. 3. Fudan University Taizhou Institute of Health Sciences, Taizhou 225316, China; Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Fudan University, Ministry of Education, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China. 4. Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Fudan University, Ministry of Education, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China. 5. State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Human Phenome Institute, and School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China; Fudan University Taizhou Institute of Health Sciences, Taizhou 225316, China; National Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China; Yiwu Research Institute of Fudan University, Yiwu, Zhejiang 322000, China. Electronic address: xingdongchen@fudan.edu.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a significant health issue closely associated with multiple metabolic dysfunctions. The association between MAFLD and cancer risk is yet unknown. METHODS: UK Biobank study participants were diagnosed for the presence of MAFLD at baseline. A multivariable Cox regression model was performed to examine the associations of MAFLD with incident events in 24 specific cancers. RESULTS: We included 352,911 individuals (37.2% with MAFLD), among whom 23,345 developed cancers. Compared with non-MAFLD, MAFLD was significantly associated with 10 of the 24 examined cancers, including corpus uteri (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.36, 95% CI 1.99-2.80), gallbladder (2.20, 1.14-4.23), liver (1.81, 1.43-2.28), kidney (1.77, 1.49-2.11), thyroid (1.69, 1.20-2.38), esophagus (1.48, 1.25-1.76), pancreas (1.31, 1.10-1.56), bladder (1.26, 1.11-1.43), breast (1.19, 1.11-1.27), and colorectal and anus cancers (1.14, 1.06-1.23). The associations of MAFLD with liver, esophageal, pancreatic, colorectal and anal and bladder cancers and malignant melanoma were strengthened in males, and associations with kidney, thyroid, and lung cancers were increased in females. The associations of MAFLD with the risk of liver, kidney, and thyroid cancers remained significant after further adjusting for the waist circumference or body mass index and the number of metabolic syndrome components based on the main models. The risk-increasing allele of PNPLA3 rs738409 significantly amplified the association of MAFLD with the risk of liver and kidney cancers. CONCLUSION: MAFLD is associated with an increased risk of a set of cancers, but the effect substantially varies by site. MAFLD deserves higher priority in the current scheme of cancer prevention.
BACKGROUND: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a significant health issue closely associated with multiple metabolic dysfunctions. The association between MAFLD and cancer risk is yet unknown. METHODS: UK Biobank study participants were diagnosed for the presence of MAFLD at baseline. A multivariable Cox regression model was performed to examine the associations of MAFLD with incident events in 24 specific cancers. RESULTS: We included 352,911 individuals (37.2% with MAFLD), among whom 23,345 developed cancers. Compared with non-MAFLD, MAFLD was significantly associated with 10 of the 24 examined cancers, including corpus uteri (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.36, 95% CI 1.99-2.80), gallbladder (2.20, 1.14-4.23), liver (1.81, 1.43-2.28), kidney (1.77, 1.49-2.11), thyroid (1.69, 1.20-2.38), esophagus (1.48, 1.25-1.76), pancreas (1.31, 1.10-1.56), bladder (1.26, 1.11-1.43), breast (1.19, 1.11-1.27), and colorectal and anus cancers (1.14, 1.06-1.23). The associations of MAFLD with liver, esophageal, pancreatic, colorectal and anal and bladder cancers and malignant melanoma were strengthened in males, and associations with kidney, thyroid, and lung cancers were increased in females. The associations of MAFLD with the risk of liver, kidney, and thyroid cancers remained significant after further adjusting for the waist circumference or body mass index and the number of metabolic syndrome components based on the main models. The risk-increasing allele of PNPLA3 rs738409 significantly amplified the association of MAFLD with the risk of liver and kidney cancers. CONCLUSION: MAFLD is associated with an increased risk of a set of cancers, but the effect substantially varies by site. MAFLD deserves higher priority in the current scheme of cancer prevention.