Underactive Thyroid Linked to Liver Cancer Risk

SOURCE:  MedPage Today

DATE:  May 6, 2009

EXCERPT: "Long-term hypothyroidism may nearly triple the risk of developing liver cancer, researchers found.  ...  This may result from the essential  role of thyroid hormones in lipid mobilization and degradation and fatty acid oxidation, Dr. Hassan's group said. When they're out of balance, "all of these conditions may enhance the susceptibility to chronic inflammation, DNA damage, and hepatocellular carcinoma development."  ...   Women with a prior, long-term history of hypothyroidism for three to 10 years had a 2.6-fold higher risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (95% CI 1.0 to 7.2). For women with a history of hypothyroidism lasting more than 10 years, the risk was 2.9 times as high (P<0.001).  ...  The greater susceptibility of women than men with the same condition may be partially explained by the liver's role as a major target tissue for the proliferative effect of growth hormones, their receptors, and binding protein, the researchers suggested. "  more

RELATED PUBMED LINK:

Hassan MM, Kaseb A, Li D, Patt YZ, Vauthey JN, Thomas MB, Curley SA, Spitz MR, Sherman SI, Abdalla EK, Davila M, Lozano RD, Hassan DM, Chan W, Brown TD, Abbruzzese JL. Association between hypothyroidism and hepatocellular carcinoma: a case-control study in the United States.
Hepatology. 2009 May;49(5):1563-70.