Genetic predisposition and abnormalities in gastric cancer

Abstract

Approximately 10% of gastric cancers develop because of increased genetic risk, but the fundamental genetic abnormalities underlying this risk are yet to be determined. A number of genetic abnormalities have been isolated in sporadic gastric cancer. There is increasing evidence that there are two distinct carcinogenic pathways for the development of cohesive and non-cohesive gastric cancer, but 10–20% of gastric cancers cannot be classified so neatly. There appear to be some similarities between intestinal-type gastric cancer and colorectal cancer (ape, dec, p53), but it would be premature to state that the carcinogenic pathways are the same because of the lesser role of c-Ki-ras mutations in gastric cancer. Further work is needed if the fundamental genetic abnormalities are to be elucidated.