Thesis abstract:

«p style="text-align:justify"»Liver cancer, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), poses a significant global health burden, ranking as the sixth most common cancer worldwide and the third leading cause of cancer-related death. HCC predominantly arises in the context of underlying liver disease, with cirrhosis being a major predisposing factor. Traditionally, viral hepatitis and alcoholic liver disease have been the primary etiologies of cirrhosis and subsequent HCC. However, the epidemiological landscape of liver disease is rapidly evolving, with the rising prevalence of metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) altering the disease paradigm.«/p» «p style="text-align:justify"»Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), previously recognized as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), has emerged as a leading cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality, affecting approximately a quarter of the global population. Notably, MAFLD is associated with a distinct spectrum of liver pathology, ranging from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis, and HCC. Unlike traditional etiologies of liver disease, MAFLD-associated HCC (MAFLD-HCC) develops in a large number of cases in the absence of cirrhosis, presenting unique challenges in terms of surveillance, diagnosis, and management.«/p» «p style="text-align:justify"»Despite the growing recognition of MAFLD as a significant contributor to the HCC burden, there remains a paucity of data characterizing patients with non-cirrhotic MAFLD-HCC. Understanding the molecular characteristics of non-cirrhotic MAFLD-associated HCC on both genetic and epigenetic levels is imperative for optimizing patient care, refining surveillance strategies, and guiding therapeutic interventions.«/p» «p style="text-align:justify"»So, this study aims to understand the molecular characteristics of non-cirrhotic MAFLD-associated HCC on both genetic and epigenetic levels.«/p»