Nature meets nurture: molecular genetics of gastric cancer.
The immensity of genes and molecules implicated in gastric carcinogenesis is overwhelming and the relevant importance of some of these molecules is too often unclear. This review serves to bring us up-to-date with the latest findings as well as to look at the larger picture in terms of how to tackle the problem of solving this multi-piece puzzle. In this review, the environmental nurturing of intestinal cancer is discussed, beginning with epidemiology (known causative factors for inducing molecular change), an update of H. pylori research, including the role of inflammation and stem cells in premalignant lesions. The role of E-cadherin in the nature (genotype) of diffuse gastric cancer is highlighted, and finally the ever growing discipline of SNP analysis (including IL1B) is discussed.
Milne
Anya N
AN
Pathology Department H04.2.25, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Postbus 85500, 3508GA Utrecht, The Netherlands. a.n.a.milne@umcutrecht.nl
Carneiro
F
F
O'Morain
C
C
Offerhaus
G J A
GJ
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D004777:Environment; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000235:genetics; D008967:Molecular Biology / Q000379:methods*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*
D015820:Cadherins; D053583:Interleukin-1beta