Metabolic dysfunction- associated steatohepatitis, or MASH, is an inflammatory, liver-scarring disease that has reached epidemic proportions, with an estimated 1.5% to 6.5% of U.S. adults afflicted by the condition, and roughly 24% of adults having nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Researchers have created a liquid biopsy test, which uses two circulating proteins, to test for major liver diseases. The test was found to be highly accurate, sensitive, and specific for both NASH and liver fibrosis. For the first time, a non-invasive test will allow for the determination of staging of both diseases without recurring to invasive liver biopsy.

Early detection has the potential to transform treatment and outcomes in cancer care, especially for cancers like liver cancer, which is typically diagnosed at a late stage with limited options for cure. A new study led by investigators from Mass General Brigham and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center suggests that proteins detectable in the blood could improve predictions about risk of liver cancer years before typical diagnosis. Results are published in JNCI.