What is the relationship between NASH and Liver Cancer?
You may know that liver cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers, but do you know about its relationship with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is rapidly increasing as a liver disease?
The existence of NAFLD-related HCC, which we at SMC Laboratories, Inc. have been focusing on for more than 10 years, is now being recognized worldwide.
Last year, the following article was even published in Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology.
Global epidemiology of NAFLD-related HCC: trends, predictions, risk factors and prevention
–What is liver cancer?
Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the world and the third most common cause of cancer-related death in 2020.
Among them, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is known to account for about 90% of all liver cancers.
Hepatitis B and C, alcohol, and diabetes are known to cause HCC, but NAFLD/NASH has been attracting attention in recent years.
–What is the relationship between NASH and HCC?
NASH is a non-alcoholic form of steatohepatitis, characterized by the progression from fatty liver to hepatitis, fibrosis and ultimately liver cancer.
The reason for the interest in this disease is the large number of potential patients as well as the number of NAFLD/NASH patients.
It is estimated that a quarter of the world's population is affected by NAFLD and the incidence of NASH is expected to increase by up to 56% over the next decade as a result of lifestyle changes, with more and more people showing signs of diabetes and obesity.
Today, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is caused by chronic liver disease resulting from hepatitis B and C virus infection, but recent advances in treatment are expected to reduce the number of patients with HCC resulting from viral infection.
However, with the increase in the number of NAFLD/NASH patients due to changes in lifestyle, there is concern that the number of patients with HCC of this origin may increase.
Our STAMTM mouse is the world's first NASH to HCC mouse model developed by SMC Laboratories, which has a background of late-stage type 2 diabetes and develops a pathology similar to human NASH (fatty liver → NASH → liver fibrosis → HCC). For more information on the STAMTM mouse model, please click here.
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