gastric-cancer

							                          Gastric (Stomach) Cancer: the FACTS

  The stomach forms part of the digestive system. It is a hollow, muscular organ that stores swallowed food, begins
  breaking the food down, and passes it on to the small intestine.


  What is gastric (stomach) cancer?
   Most cases of gastric cancer (90-95%) evolve in the lining, or mucosa, of the stomach. These tumours are called
  adenocarcinoma. Other, less common, forms of gastric cancer include squamous cell carcinoma, lymphoma,
  stromal tumours and carcinoid tumours. In advanced cases, gastric cancer can spread to the oesophagus, small
  intestine, nearby lymph nodes and neighbouring organs such as the colon, pancreas and liver.

  The most common type of gastric cancer is associated with infection by the heliobacter pylori bacteria. This lives
  in the lining of the stomach in 40% of all adults, however, only a small number of people infected will actually go
  on to develop gastric cancer.


  What are the symptoms?
  Gastric cancer symptoms can be vague and difficult to diagnose. For this reason, the majority of cases are not
  discovered in the early stages. Symptoms include discomfort in the upper abdomen, loss of appetite, nausea,
  tiredness and weight loss.


  What are the risk factors?
   Smokers, people aged over 50 and men are in the highest risk group for gastric cancer. Diet is also thought to
   play a role; people who have a diet high in salt, or low in fruit and vegetables are also at a higher risk.
   Environmental factors, such as developing exposure to dry cleaning solvents, may also play a role in the onset
Gastric cancer is more common inoccupationalcountries and is reducing in
   of gastric developed nations, such as Australia. Despite this, it is still the second-
frequency incancer.
most lethal form of cancer world-wide1. In Victoria, 530 people are diagnosed with
gastric cancer each year2. It is more common in men than women, and
   How common is gastric cancer?
predominantly diagnosed in people aged over 60.


Gastric cancer research at MIMR
MIMR scientists are part of an acclaimed gastric cancer collaborative research
program that is in an exciting phase. Using mouse models, they have discovered
that the growth of stomach tumours can be suppressed by reducing the amount of
one of two proteins; either Stat3 or IL-11. Their findings provide evidence that
development of a therapy could lead to treatments for not only stomach cancer, but
for a range of other cancers, including cancer of the liver, prostate and colon.

As there are striking similarities between human and mouse stomach tumour development, MIMR scientists
believe their findings will be highly relevant in any future clinical trials. They are also optimistic that their results
could also lead to the identification of biological _markers_ that will help in the early detection of the disease.

Generous funding from the Sylvia and Charles Viertel Foundation, the Cancer Council of Victoria, NHMRC
and the Association for International Cancer Research will ensure this research will continue to go from
strength to strength.
  1   Parkin DM, Bray F, Ferlay J, Pisani P (2002)Global cancer statistics, 2002. CA Cancer J Clin. 2005 Mar-Apr;55(2):74-108.
   2   Stomach & oesophageal cancer booklet, Cancer Council Victoria, February 2008


                                                                                            For more information contact: The Development Office
                                                                                                       Monash Institute of Medical Research
                                                                                     Phone: 1800 424 055; Email: moreinfo@med.monash.edu.au
  Last updated 5/2009                                                                                              www.monashinstitute.org
More information
"    Bowel Cancer Australia: /www.bowelcanceraustralia.com/bowel_cancer/gcfinal.html#sgc
"    Cancer Council Victoria: www.cancervic.org.au/about-cancer/cancer_types
"    Monash Institute of Medical Research: www.monashinstitute.org
"    Victorian Government Better Health Channel:
    http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Stomach_cancer?open




                                                                        For more information contact: The Development Office
                                                                                   Monash Institute of Medical Research
                                                                 Phone: 1800 424 055; Email: moreinfo@med.monash.edu.au
Last updated 5/2009                                                                            www.monashinstitute.org