Biomarkers in Gastric Diseases

Dear Colleagues,

Gastric cancer is one of the leading life-threatening disease world-wide. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and subsequent persistent inflammation is well known to be major cause of gastric diseases, including chronic atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, and gastric carcinogenesis. Gastric lesions progress gradually and steadily along with the duration of infection. Thus, risk assessment for carcinogenesis needs to be modified according to the changing gastric mucosa. Experimental and epidemiological studies revealed curative eradication of H. pylori significantly lowered cancer incidence. However, it is also warned that human cases of atrophic metaplastic gastritis are already at risk for gastric cancer development, even after eradication of the bacteria. To clarify the situation of H. pylori induced gastric mucosal damage, various biological, serological, or molecular biomarkers have become more and more important and attracting attention in both research and clinical situations.

Serum pepsinogen test is useful to assess gastric atrophy and H. pylori situation, well correlating with gastric cancer risk. Chromosomal amplification and overexpression of HER2 enables molecular targeting therapy with Trastuzumab. DNA methylation is common alteration and could be therapeutic target. miRNA attracted attention to regulate expression of various oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. More recently, circulating tumor cells or cell free DNA would be more sensitive and non-invasive methods to monitor carcinogenesis or recurrence.

We expect this Special Issue will provide various biomarkers to clarify H. pylori-induced gastric diseases and may explore further diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Prof. Dr. Tetsuya Tsukamoto
Prof. Dr. Sachiyo Nomura
Guest Editors

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