Molecular Diagnosis and Latest Treatment for Gastric Cancer
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Oncology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 November 2025 | Viewed by 2076
Special Issue Editor
Interests: gastric cancer; biomedical research; molecular genetics; molecular oncology
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Strategies for the prevention and early detection of gastric cancer represent a major challenge in medicine. There are several reasons for this, related to its multifactorial etiology, genetic and epigenetic background, biology, and limitations in detection methods. Non-specific symptoms in the early phases often lead to late diagnosis, when the tumour has already reached an advanced stage or has progressed to metastatic gastric cancer. The survival prospects for patients diagnosed with advanced or metastatic gastric cancer are poor and 5-year survival rates in most countries range between 21 and 39%. Notable exceptions to this include some countries with a high burden of disease that have justified the establishment of screening programmes, leading to the improved detection of precancerous or early-stage gastric cancer, and consequently to better survival prognosis and even lower incidence.
The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) research network has identified four distinct subtypes of gastric cancer, based on their molecular characteristics: EBV-positive, high microsatellite instability (MSI-H), genomic stability (GS), and tumours with chromosomal instability (CIN). The current molecular biomarkers routinely used for classification and for more precise treatment approaches are CDH1 and CTNNA1 germline variants, predisposing to hereditary diffuse gastric cancer, amplifications in the HER2 gene, a positive PD-L1 combined score, mutations in the PIK3CA gene, NTRK gene fusions, and MSI-H status. Other molecular markers, such as FGFR2 amplification or overexpression, MET amplification, claudin-18.2 overexpression, and EBV infection are currently being investigated as predictive biomarkers for gastric cancer. Furthermore, research has underpinned additional immune checkpoint inhibitors as potential targets for treatment, but response rates are still being assessed.
Led by Dr. Petra Hudler and assisted by our Topical Advisory Panel Member Dr. Pia Pužar Dominkuš (University of Ljubljana), this Special Issue aims to provide a stage for novel research and new advances for gastric cancer. A thorough exploration into the molecular background of gastric cancer and an understanding of how genetic and epigenetic alterations interact with lifestyle and other factors should facilitate the development of new non-invasive diagnostic methods, uncover new druggable molecular targets or pathways, and help to minimize the risk of developing the disease.
Dr. Petra Hudler
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- gastric cancer
- biomarkers
- genetics
- epigenetics
- immunotherapy
- molecular diagnostics
- personalized medicine
- predisposition
- risk factors
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