title: Genetic etiology of gastric carcinoma: I. Chronic atrophic gastritis.
abstract: Scientific evidence has accumulated to show that chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) is a precursor of gastric carcinoma, especially its intestinal histologic type; thus the etiology of CAG is of interest. Data on 110 families (557 individuals) collected as part of a large cohort from the Narino region of Colombia, South America, are analyzed to determine the familiality of CAG as a risk factor, and the possible involvement of a major gene in its etiology. We found that age and having an affected mother are important risk factors. In the sample, 45% are affected; 56% of individuals above 30 are affected, whereas only 28% of those 30 and under are affected; 48% of those with affected mothers are affected, but only 7% of those with unaffected mothers are affected. A positive spouse association was confounded with age. Sex and an affected father are not significant risk factors. The genetic (segregation) analysis showed Mendelian transmission of a recessive autosomal gene with penetrance dependent on age and mother's CAG status. Homozygous recessives account for an estimated 61% of the sampled population and have penetrance reaching 72% at age 30 if the mother is affected, and 41% if the mother is not affected. Carriers and non-carriers, who make up an estimated 39% of the sampled population, have an appreciable estimated risk after age 50. The environment, particularly diet, as the sole determinant of CAG needs reevaluation; some combined action of genes and environment seems more plausible.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D003105:Colombia; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000235:genetics*; D005757:Gastritis, Atrophic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D005808:Genes, Recessive; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008957:Models, Genetic; D012306:Risk; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*