FGF21 and cancer: Consequently, strengthened lipogenesis accelerates tumour growth and disrupts the balance between apoptosis and cell proliferation, thus promoting the development of malignancies.33 Furthermore, cancer cells have a high metabolic rate and thus can easily experience nutrient starvation.9,34 FGF-21 could be easily induced by nutrient starvation during cancer progression, then released into peripheral circulation.29 This may also partially explain the reason for increased risk of CRC among individuals with elevated FGF-21 levels.