Molecular mechanisms and pathogenesis of MASH

A comprehensive Nature Review synthesizes current knowledge of the molecular and cellular mechanisms driving metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and its progression to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The article maps key pathogenic pathways — including lipotoxicity, inflammation, and fibrosis — that underlie the MASH-to-HCC transition. As MASH is becoming the fastest-growing etiology of liver cancer worldwide, clarifying these mechanisms is critical for identifying therapeutic targets and biomarkers for early HCC detection.