title: Familial gastric cancer and germline mutations of E-cadherin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most gastric cancer (GC) is sporadic and seem to be mostly related to a cumulative effect of multiple environmental factors. Although the actual importance of genetic factors has not yet been fully documented, GC with familial aggregation has been found to have an incidence of 10% to 30%.
  
  
  METHODS
  Genetic factors contribute to the well-known autosomal dominant syndrome defined as hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) which can be related to germline mutations of the gene encoding E-cadherin gene (CDH1). It has been estimated that 1-3% of cases of GC are due to HDGC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The authors review data on CDH1 mutations in HDGC ,CDH1 testing criteria, and treatment. They conclude that cancer pedigrees and screening for CDH1 mutations are essential for improving the management of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, Division of General Surgery and Oncology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Corso
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marrelli
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Roviello
mesh_terms: D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics*; D018095:Germ-Line Mutation; D006801:Humans; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins