title: Gastric cancer: prevention, screening and early diagnosis.
abstract: Gastric cancer continues to be an important healthcare problem from a global perspective. Most of the cases in the Western world are diagnosed at late stages when the treatment is largely ineffective. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a well-established carcinogen for gastric cancer. While lifestyle factors are important, the efficacy of interventions in their modification, as in the use of antioxidant supplements, is unconvincing. No organized screening programs can be found outside Asia (Japan and South Korea). Although several screening approaches have been proposed, including indirect atrophy detection by measuring pepsinogen in the circulation, none of them have so far been implemented, and more study data is required to justify any implementation. Mass eradication of H. pylori in high-risk areas tends to be cost-effective, but its adverse effects and resistance remain a concern. Searches for new screening biomarkers, including microRNA and cancer-autoantibody panels, as well as detection of volatile organic compounds in the breath, are in progress. Endoscopy with a proper biopsy follow-up remains the standard for early detection of cancer and related premalignant lesions. At the same time, new advanced high-resolution endoscopic technologies are showing promising results with respect to diagnosing mucosal lesions visually and targeting each biopsy. New histological risk stratifications (classifications), including OLGA and OLGIM, have recently been developed. This review addresses the current means for gastric cancer primary and secondary prevention, the available and emerging methods for screening, and new developments in endoscopic detection of early lesions of the stomach.
authors.affiliation: Victor Pasechnikov, Sergej Chukov, Stavropol State Medical University, 355017 Stavropol, Russia.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pasechnikov
authors.affiliation: Victor Pasechnikov, Sergej Chukov, Stavropol State Medical University, 355017 Stavropol, Russia.
authors.forename: Sergej
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chukov
authors.affiliation: Victor Pasechnikov, Sergej Chukov, Stavropol State Medical University, 355017 Stavropol, Russia.
authors.forename: Evgeny
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fedorov
authors.affiliation: Victor Pasechnikov, Sergej Chukov, Stavropol State Medical University, 355017 Stavropol, Russia.
authors.forename: Ilze
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kikuste
authors.affiliation: Victor Pasechnikov, Sergej Chukov, Stavropol State Medical University, 355017 Stavropol, Russia.
authors.forename: Marcis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leja
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods; D005773:Gastroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011314:Preventive Health Services; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: Gastric cancer; Helicobacter pylori