MASLD-Related HCC: Trends, Pathogenesis and Current Treatment Options

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a late-stage complication in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Recent epidemiological studies indicate that as the global burden of HCC continues to rise alarmingly, the proportion of MASLD-related HCC cases both in cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic populations has been steadily increasing. This review aims to provide an update on the HCC burden in individuals with MASLD, exploring its association with insulin resistance, metabolic inflammation, and gut-derived liver injury. Finally, we will outline risk-based HCC surveillance strategies and discuss the potential impact of novel targeted therapies for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) related fibrosis on HCC incidence.