Implementation of gastric cancer screening - the global experience

Abstract

Gastric cancer (GC) is still an important global healthcare problem, and in absolute figures it is going to remain at the present level in foreseeable future. In general, survival of patients with GC is poor mainly due to advanced-stage diagnosis. Early-stage GC can be cured by endoscopic resection or less invasive surgical treatment. Unfortunately, there is no appropriate screening strategy available for global application. This article provides a description of established national and regional GC screening programs and the screening modalities used. This review also summarizes current approaches to develop cancer-screening biomarkers. Although candidates with initial promising results have been suggested, moving discovery into clinical practice is still a major challenge. Well-designed biomarker studies, with systematic validation steps, are needed to decrease the burden of this fatal disease.

Keywords: Biomarkers; Gastric cancer; Helicobacter pylori; Precancerous lesions; Screening.

Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Nothing to declare

Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Figures

Figure 1

Potential prevention and control strategies of gastric cancer and the related premalignant lesions