MOLECULAR INSIGHTS INTO GASTRIC CANCER

Priyanka Joshi*, Dr. Rajesh Pandey, Ajay Kumar

ABSTRACT

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth most common cancer and the second leading course of cancer-related deaths worldwide (after cancers of lung, breast and colon/rectum), with an estimated 989,600 new cases and 738,000 deaths in 2008. It is the second-most common cancer among men and third-most among females in Asia and worldwide. Incidence rates can be attributed to many factors but refer particularly to differences in dietary habits, and infection with Helicobacter pylori. A report of a joint World Health Organization (WHO)/Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Expert Consultation concluded that salt-preserved food and salt “probably” increase the risk of gastric cancer, whereas fruit and vegetables “probably” decrease the risk. Telomerase activity was initially assayed in gastric carcinoma tissues, matched adjacent normal tissues and digestive ulcer lesions. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CA19-9 and CA72-4 are the most commonly used biomarkers of GC. With increasing knowledge about the function of miRNAs, their possible therapeutic associations have attracted attention. The association between MUC1 polymorphism rs4072037 and the risk of GC has been also described. Mechanism of metastasis in gastric cancer is still under investigation. Development of molecular biomarkers, molecular and functional imaging techniques will be of great help in GC. The core of individualized treatment is to use the appropriate strategy on the right patient.

Keywords: Gastric cancer, genes, biomarkers, miRNA, treatment.