When we think of metabolic health, the liver and pancreas often operate behind the scenes, regulating fat metabolism, insulin balance, and inflammation. But they don’t function in isolation. Emerging research increasingly links conditions like MASLD and MASH with risks to the pancreas, including Pancreatic Cancer.
How the liver & pancreas interplay
Chronic fat accumulation in the liver (as in MASLD/MASH) triggers systemic inflammation, insulin resistance, and metabolic stress, all factors that impair pancreatic function and elevate cancer risk. Meanwhile, the pancreas’s role in insulin production and digestion means metabolic dysregulation affects it directly. As one organ falters, the strain often shows up in the other.
What the numbers tell us
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According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 67,440 people in the U.S. are expected to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2025, and roughly 51,980 are projected to die from it.
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A 2024 meta-analysis found that individuals with MASLD had a 1.32 times higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer compared to people without fatty liver disease.
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A 2025 cohort study showed that among people with MASLD, hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) was independently associated with increased pancreatic cancer risk, even after adjusting for obesity or alcohol use.
Why early detection is so vital
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers, mainly because it’s often detected late. The five‐year survival rate in the U.S. remains around 13 % for all stages combined. If we can identify metabolic risk earlier, when liver health is already compromised but the pancreas hasn’t yet failed, we may open a window to prevention and intervention.
Where Fibronostics comes into play
At Fibronostics, our diagnostic platforms LIVERFASt™ and LIVERSTAT® empower clinicians to identify liver fibrosis, inflammation, and steatosis early, before advanced consequences or related pancreatic risk sets in. By flagging metabolic risk and liver impairment, these tools help initiate care pathways that address both liver and pancreas health. In essence, detecting liver issues early becomes a preventive act for pancreatic outcomes too.