High-Fat Diets May Rewire Liver Cells, Raising Cancer Risk

Long-term consumption of a high-fat diet can fundamentally change how liver cells behave, increasing the risk of liver cancer, according to new research from MIT published in Cell. The study shows that repeated exposure to excess fat forces mature liver cells, known as hepatocytes, to revert to a more primitive, stem-like state that helps them survive ongoing stress but also makes them more prone to becoming cancerous.

Using mouse models and single-cell RNA sequencing, researchers tracked how liver cells responded over time to fatty diets. They found that genes supporting cell survival and growth were switched on early, while genes responsible for normal liver functions, such as metabolism and protein production, gradually shut down. This shift prioritizes individual cell survival over healthy tissue function.

The team also identified key transcription factors driving this change, some of which are already being explored as drug targets. Analysis of human liver samples revealed similar patterns, linking these cellular changes to poorer patient outcomes and highlighting how diet-driven stress may set the stage for cancer decades later.

07-01-2026