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Stomach cancer begins when abnormal cells in the stomach lining grow uncontrollably. Most cases are adenocarcinomas, which start in the glandular cells of the stomach lining.
Other less common types include:
Early-stage stomach cancer often doesn’t cause symptoms, which is why it can go undiagnosed until it's advanced. As the disease progresses, symptoms may include:
If you have persistent or worsening digestive issues, especially with other symptoms, talk to a doctor.
Endoscopy (Gastroscopy): A thin, flexible tube with a camera is inserted through the mouth to view the stomach and take biopsies.
Biopsy: A sample of stomach tissue taken during endoscopy is examined for cancer cells.
Staging Tests: To determine how far the cancer has spread (stage-1 to stage-4), helping to guide treatment options.
Treatment depends on the cancer type, stage, and patient’s health:
Surgery
Subtotal (partial) gastrectomy: Removal of part of the stomach.
Total gastrectomy: Removal of the entire stomach.
Lymph node dissection: Removal of nearby lymph nodes to prevent spread.
Chemotherapy
Radiation Therapy
Often combined with chemotherapy to target and kill cancer cells.
Can preserve voice and appearance in some cases
Targeted Therapy
Immunotherapy
Boosts the body’s natural defences to fight cancer (e.g., pembrolizumab)
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Diagnosis: Harvard’s AI model “Chief” has shown up to 94% accuracy in detecting cancers via tissue image analysis.
Immunotherapy
Dostarlimab: In a groundbreaking study, the immunotherapy drug dostarlimab showed that 92% of patients with mismatch repair-deficient cancers, including stomach cancer, remained cancer-free for at least two years without surgery or chemotherapy. This treatment is particularly effective for cancers with specific genetic mutations.
Cadonilimab (AK104): A bispecific antibody targeting both PD-1 and CTLA-4, cadonilimab has shown promising results in combination with chemotherapy for HER2-negative gastric cancers, offering improved survival rates.
Targeted Therapy
Zolbetuximab (Vyloy): Approved in 2024, zolbetuximab is a monoclonal antibody targeting claudin 18.2, a protein expressed in certain gastric cancers. When combined with chemotherapy, it has demonstrated improved survival in patients with HER2-negative, claudin 18.2-positive advanced gastric cancer.
Cancer Vaccine
Personalized mRNA Vaccine: In a clinical trial, a personalized mRNA vaccine developed by Moderna and MSD was administered to a patient with gastro-oesophageal cancer in Dundee, Scotland. This vaccine aims to stimulate the immune system to target cancer cells more effectively.
You should avoid highly processed and sugary foods, alcohol, acidic foods like citrus, spicy foods, tough foods like raw vegetables and nuts, and caffeinated beverages. It is also recommended to limit salted and pickled foods, and those with tough textures or high fibre content as they can irritate the digestive system and worsen symptoms or complicate treatment.
Stomach cancer starts when cells in the stomach's inner lining undergo abnormal DNA changes, causing them to grow and multiply uncontrollably to form a tumor. This process is often linked to a chronic infection from the Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria or is influenced by risk factors like a diet high in salt, smoked foods, or low in fruits and vegetables, as well as smoking, alcohol, and obesity.
No, most stomach cancer is not hereditary; only a small percentage, between 1-3%, is caused by inherited genetic syndromes, such as Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer (HDGC) which involves a mutation in the CDH1 gene.
Infection with H. pylori is the strongest known risk factor for gastric cancer, which is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.
You can search your Head and Neck Cancer Specialist on www.ioncosolutions.com