Gastric cancer: epidemiology and prospects for the development and implementation of innovative technologies for early detection and treatment

Abstract

Relevance: Gastric cancer is a heterogeneous group of malignant epithelial tumors arising from the cells of the gastric mucosa, one of the most common forms of malignant neoplasms in many countries of the world. But, despite repeated attempts, there are no convincing approaches to early large-scale (screening) detection technology for this form of cancer. This causes a high rate of late detection of advanced forms of gastric cancer in most countries of the world, a high one-year mortality rate of patients, and a low five-year survival rate. Currently, full screening for gastric cancer is carried out only in Japan, Korea, and China - countries with high incidence rates.

The study aimed was a retrospective analysis of literary data on the epidemiology of gastric cancer in the world, individual countries, but, above all, our own materials, summarized by specialists of the Joint Stock Company “Kazakh Research Institute of Oncology and Radiology” (JSC “KazNIIOiR”) on the situation with cancer stomach in Kazakhstan; analysis of information on the types and results of screenings for the early detection of gastric cancer in the world.

Methods: For the analysis, we used available epidemiological indicators on GC from the specialized literature, data obtained from annual reporting forms No. 7, approved by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in the country code (ICD 10 - C16), publications with statistical and analytical materials on Kazakhstan. Morbidity and mortality rates were calculated based on data from the Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan website on the average annual population by region of Kazakhstan.

Results: A long-term decrease in the incidence and mortality from gastric cancer in Kazakhstan since 2021 has been replaced by a stable increase in the incidence of gastric cancer against the backdrop of a high frequency of advanced forms, relatively high mortality, and low five-year survival of patients. At the same time, there is experience in the world of certain approaches to screening the population for early detection of gastric cancer.

Conclusion: The high morbidity of gastric cancer in most regions of the country in recent years requires the search and development of optimal forms of screening for its early detection; this will reduce mortality from gastric cancer and increase the five-year survival rate of patients.