Diabetes and Obesity Linked to Higher Risk of Liver Cancer Recurrence: Study
New Delhi: A recent study by Osaka Metropolitan University reveals that diabetes and obesity may significantly increase the risk of relapse in liver cancer, the sixth most common cancer globally. The research focused on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)—a liver cancer often associated with hepatitis infections—which has a notoriously high recurrence rate after tumour removal. It is also the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.
Obesity and diabetes, known to be linked to the development of metabolic syndrome, are already established risk factors for steatotic liver diseases, which can eventually lead to liver cirrhosis and HCC. However, their direct impact on survival rates and the recurrence of liver cancer had remained unclear until this study.
The research team, led by Dr Hiroji Shinkawa at Osaka Metropolitan University’s Graduate School of Medicine, analysed postoperative outcomes in 1,644 patients with HCC who underwent liver resection. The study found that obesity increased the risk of cancer recurrence by 1.5 times within two years after surgery. For patients with diabetes, the recurrence risk was 1.3 times higher during the same period.
The risk of relapse rose even more significantly over time. Five years after surgery, obesity raised the recurrence risk by 3.8 times, while diabetes doubled the risk.
“Because the risk of late recurrence is higher in hepatocellular carcinoma with comorbid obesity and diabetes, controlling obesity and diabetes is an important treatment strategy for hepatocellular carcinoma,” said Dr Shinkawa.
These findings underline the critical importance of managing metabolic conditions like obesity and diabetes to improve liver cancer survival rates and reduce recurrence. According to the research team, the study’s results could contribute to the early detection of cancer relapse and the development of targeted treatment strategies for patients with these comorbidities.
With obesity rates expected to rise significantly, and the number of people with diabetes projected to reach 642 million by 2040, the study’s findings are particularly relevant for global public health efforts aimed at reducing cancer recurrence and improving long-term outcomes.
Rishika Verma is a graduate from Delhi University. She joined Medical Dialogues in 2023. Her interest lies in reporting health news, hospital updates, health updates, medical case studies, and advancements in healthcare, etc.