Cancer Progress and Priorities: Gastric Cancer

Abstract

Gastric cancer, the fifth leading cause of cancer worldwide, is estimated to be responsible for approximately 1.4% of all new cancers and 1.8% of all cancer-related deaths in the United States. Despite declining incidence rates and improved survival rates, however, gastric cancer continues to disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minorities and individuals of lower socioeconomic status at higher rates than the general population. To improve outcomes globally and address disparities within the United States, continued improvements are needed in risk factor modification and biomarker development and to improve access to existing preventative measures such as genetic testing and H. pylori eradication testing, in addition to expanding upon current clinical guidelines for premalignant disease to address gaps in endoscopic surveillance and early detection.

Figure 1:

Estimated age-standardized incidence rates (World) in 2020, stomach, both sexes, all ages.

Figure 2:

Delay-adjusted SEER stomach cancer incidence rates by age at diagnosis, 2015-2019, by race/ethnicity; panel A displays rates among women; panel B displays rates among men.