title: Familial gastric cancer: detection of a hereditary cause helps to understand its etiology.
abstract: Worldwide, gastric cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer, with a high morbidity and mortality. Several environmental factors predispose to the development of gastric cancer, such as Helicobacter pylori infection, diet and smoking. Familial clustering of gastric cancer is seen in 10% of cases, and approximately 3% of gastric cancer cases arise in the setting of hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC). In families with HDGC, gastric cancer presents at relatively young age. Germline mutations in the CDH1 gene are the major cause of HDGC and are identified in approximately 25-50% of families which fulfill strict criteria. Prophylactic gastrectomy is the only option to prevent gastric cancer in individuals with a CDH1 mutation. However, in the majority of families with multiple cases of gastric cancer no germline genetic abnormality can be identified and therefore preventive measures are not available, except for general lifestyle advice. Future research should focus on identifying new genetic predisposing factors for all types of familial gastric cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, PO box 9101, Nijmegen, 6500HB, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ingrid P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Vogelaar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, PO box 9101, Nijmegen, 6500HB, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rachel S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: van der Post
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, PO box 9101, Nijmegen, 6500HB, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Tanya M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Bisseling
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, PO box 9101, Nijmegen, 6500HB, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J Han Jm
authors.initials: JHJ
authors.lastname: van Krieken
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, PO box 9101, Nijmegen, 6500HB, The Netherlands.|Department of Pathology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, PO box 9101, Nijmegen, 6500HB, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marjolijn Jl
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ligtenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, PO box 9101, Nijmegen, 6500HB, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Nicoline
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hoogerbrugge