Hepatic steatosis promotes growth and invasiveness of hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with increased risk of development of end stage liver disease and cirrhosis, and can be complicated by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Moreover, the metabolic syndrome and hepatic steatosis are independent risk factors for HCC progression also in other types of chronic liver disease. Still, it is incompletely understood how steatosis promotes HCC development and progression. The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of hepatic steatosis on HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. Methods and Results: We applied a syngeneic, orthotopic HCC model, in which we…