Hepatic steatosis enhances growth and invasiveness of hepatocellular carcinoma

The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been rising for decades and became a problem of increasing clinical significance worldwide. NAFLD is associated with increased risk of development of end stage liver disease and cirrhosis, and can be complicated by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which became the most common cause of death in patients diagnosed with NAFLD. Moreover, the metabolic syndrome and fatty liver, respectively, are independent risk factors for HCC progression also in other types of chronic liver disease. Still, the underlying mechanisms promoting HCC development and progressi…