Multifactorial Diseases of the Heart, Kidneys, Lungs, and Liver and Incident Cancer: Epidemiology and Shared Mechanisms

Simple Summary Multifactorial diseases are caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors and various risk factors that accumulate with age. Cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, metabolic (dysfunction) associated fatty liver disease, and cancers are the most common multifactorial diseases and impose a considerable healthcare burden. The simultaneous manifestation of two or more of these diseases represents various clinical challenges as each disease interferes with the treatment of the other. This review summarizes several lines of evidence concerning the bi-directional relationship between multifactorial diseases and cancer. Moreover, this article aims to increase clinicians' awareness regarding the risk of cancer development among patients with other multifactorial diseases. Within the aging population, the frequency of cancer is increasing dramatically. In addition, multiple genetic and environmental factors lead to common multifactorial diseases, including cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and metabolic-associated fatty liver disease. In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the connection between cancer and multifactorial diseases, as well as how one can affect the other, resulting in a vicious cycle. Although the exact mechanistic explanations behind this remain to be fully explored, some progress has been made in uncovering the common pathologic mechanisms. In this review, we focus on the nature of the link between cancer and common multifactorial conditions, as well as specific shared mechanisms, some of which may represent either preventive or therapeutic targets. Rather than organ-specific interactions, we herein focus on the shared mechanisms among the multifactorial diseases, which may explain the increased cancer risk. More research on this subject will highlight the significance of developing new drugs that target multiple systems rather than just one disease.

Automated summary

Multifactorial diseases are caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors and impose a considerable healthcare burden. This review summarizes the evidence regarding the relationship between multifactorial diseases and cancer, aiming to increase clinicians' awareness. The frequency of cancer is increasing dramatically among the aging population, and there is a growing awareness of the connection between cancer and multifactorial diseases.