Stomach cancer
More than 2,200 Australians were diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2020 and 1,140 died from the disease. Sadly, stomach cancer is often not diagnosed until it is at an advanced stage when it is more difficult to treat, and the five-year survival rate of less than 30 per cent.
What is stomach cancer?
The most common form of stomach or gastric cancer involves the growth of cancerous cells in the stomach wall to form a tumour. In most cases, this process happens over many years before it is detected.
Stomach cancer is more common in men than women and generally occurs in older people.
Stomach cancer risk factors
While scientists do not yet know the cause of stomach cancer, they do know the risk factors that lead to its development. These include
- Infection with the bacterium, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), is present in up to 90 per cent of people who have stomach cancer
- Gut inflammation, gastritis
- Long lasting anaemia, called pernicious anaemia
- Stomach polyps or growths.
Lifestyle factors that increase the risk of stomach cancer include
- Smoking
- Being aged over 50
- Being overweight
- Eating a lot of salty, smoked or processed food
- Eating too much meat
- Alcohol
- Family history.
Reducing the risk of stomach cancer
The risk of developing all cancers can be reduced by maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced low-fat diet including fruit and vegetables, avoiding salty, pickled and smoked food, not smoking, exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight. In addition, treating stomach ulcers that result from an H. pylori infection will reduce the risk of developing stomach cancer.
Stomach cancer diagnosis
The main test for stomach cancer is an endoscopy, which involves inserting a thin flexible tube with a camera into your mouth to look at the digestive tract. Following a diagnosis, other tests, including a CT scan, ultrasound scan, PET scan, laparoscopy and bone scan will determine what the stage of the cancer.
Stomach cancer treatment
Treatment for stomach cancers depends on where the cancer starts. Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, targeted drugs and immunotherapy. Sadly, because stomach cancer is not diagnosed until a late stage, surgery is not always possible.
Our stomach cancer research
Late diagnosis is one of the biggest issues in stomach cancer. By uncovering how stomach cancer develops and spreads, our scientists’ goal is to save lives thorough better detection and treatments.
Keeping stomach cancer at bay
Prevention and molecular studies. Some people with H. pylori infection develop a rare form of cancer, known as MALT lymphoma, in which white blood cells accumulate in the stomach. Professor Ferrero’s group has identified a protein that prevents the accumulation of these cells in the stomach. Ongoing studies are focussed on identifying novel biomarkers and developing new therapies against this cancer.
Lead Researcher | Professor Richard Ferrero
Development of a vaccine against stomach cancer
Prevention studies. H. pylori infection is the single most important factor causing stomach cancer. By protecting people from becoming infected, it will be possible to prevent the development of many cases of this cancer. Professor Ferrero’s group is developing a novel vaccine strategy against H. pylori infection to prevent stomach cancer.
Lead Researcher | Professor Richard Ferrero
A new therapeutic target for Helicobacter pylori-induced stomach cancer
Therapeutic target Infection by the bacterium, H. pylori, is a major factor in the development of stomach cancer. Professor Ferrero’s group showed that stomach tissues produce a molecule that reduces the inflammatory changes associated with cancer due to H. pylori infection. This molecule may be targeted in therapeutic strategies to treat inflammation-induced cancer.
Lead Researcher | Professor Richard Ferrero
Stomach cancer collaborators
Support for people with stomach cancer
Hudson Institute scientists cannot provide medical advice.
Find out more about stomach cancer.
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