Author information
1Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham (UAB), AL, USA; UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA. Electronic address: fbril@uab.edu.
2Centro de Enfermedades Renales e Hipertension Arterial (CEREHA), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a systemic disease characterized by insulin resistance and lipotoxicity. Its association with type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma are well described. However, the association of MASLD and extra-hepatic cancers has received significantly less attention. This narrative review will summarize the conflicting evidence regarding the association between MASLD and cancers of the urinary system, including renal cell carcinoma, urothelial carcinoma, and prostate adenocarcinoma. It will explore potential mechanisms that could be responsible for a higher risk of urinary system cancers in patients with MASLD. We hope that our comprehensive assessment of the literature will help the readers to better interpret the available evidence.