Liver Cancer Risk Increases with Other Conditions

Overweight and diabetes may increase the risk for liver cancer, according to a study published in Cancer Research. Researchers assessed data from 1.57 million participants from the Liver Cancer Pooling Project and monitored BMI, waist circumference, type 2 diabetes incidence rates, and liver cancer diagnoses. An increase of 5 kg/m2 in BMI and 5 cm in waist circumference increased the risk for liver cancer when compared to those with lower BMIs and waist circumferences. Type 2 diabetes also increased the risk for cancer. Researchers suspect the increased fatty tissue in the liver contributes to carcinogenesis through inflammation and insulin insensitivity. Interventions to lessen these conditions may prevent liver cancer.