{
  "abstract": "Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. In Oman, CRC ranks as the most common cancer among males and the second most common among females, with approximately 20% of cases diagnosed in individuals under 40 years of age. Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), a prevalent metabolic disorder, has been linked to increased CRC risk. However, data on the clinicopathological associations between MASLD and early-onset CRC (EOCRC) remain limited, particularly in Middle Eastern populations. Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of MASLD among patients with EOCRC and to investigate its associations with key clinicopathological characteristics at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH). Methods A retrospective review of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer before age 50 at SQUH was conducted and MASLD was identified based on available abdominal imaging. Data on demographics, metabolic risk factors, and tumor characteristics were collected. Descriptive statistics and association tests were used to assess the prevalence of MASLD and its associations with clinicopathological features. Results MASLD prevalence was 25.6% among the 172 recruited EOCRC patients (median age 39.9 years; 56% male). MASLD was more frequent with higher BMI (p=0.037) and older age (p=0.0015) but did not differ by sex, other demographics, presenting complaints, or comorbidities. Tumor characteristics were generally comparable: tumor stage, location, nodal status (N0 vs N+), tumor size (median 5.95 vs. 5.75cm; p=0.818), degree of differentiation (poor/moderate/well; p=0.127), lymphovascular invasion (p=0.122), and liver metastasis (p=0.713; OR 1.20, 95% CI 0.60-2.50). Laboratory data were largely similar; however, white cell count was higher in patients without MASLD (median 5.0 vs. 6.1 x 10 9/L; p=0.0061), neutrophil count was lower in the MASLD group (median 2.50 vs. 3.40 x 109/L; p=0.016) and elevated CEA was less frequent in the MASLD group (median 1.85 vs. 3.40; p=0.049). Renal and biochemical profiles (ALT, AST, albumin, ALP, hemoglobin, MCV, creatinine/urea/sodium) did not show significant group differences. Conclusion This study indicates that MASLD (25.6%) was linked with higher BMI and older age but not with more advanced tumor features. Aside from lower WCC/neutrophils and fewer elevated CEA in the MASLD group, laboratory parameters were similar, suggesting that MASLD does not confer a more adverse presentation.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Oman Medical Specialty Board, Muscat, Oman"
      ],
      "name": "Ahmed Al Adawi"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Medical student at Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman"
      ],
      "name": "Maitham Al-Futaisi"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Medical student at Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman"
      ],
      "name": "Sultan Al Habsi"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Medical student at Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman"
      ],
      "name": "Hamza Al Rashdi"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Medical Research Center, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman"
      ],
      "name": "Said Al-Busafi"
    }
  ],
  "title": "P325 Metabolic liver disease in early-onset colorectal cancer: a 15-year cohort from Oman reveals surprising patterns",
  "uid": "6a414026-3f7f-5969-8a7a-b97f431abc07"
}