Review
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World J Gastroenterol. Jan 21, 2011; 17(3): 290-299
Published online Jan 21, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i3.290
Genomic and genetic alterations influence the progression of gastric cancer
Stefania Nobili, Lorenzo Bruno, Ida Landini, Cristina Napoli, Paolo Bechi, Francesco Tonelli, Carlos A Rubio, Enrico Mini, Gabriella Nesi
Stefania Nobili, Ida Landini, Cristina Napoli, Enrico Mini, Department of Preclinical and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Florence, Florence, 50139, Italy
Lorenzo Bruno, Paolo Bechi, Department of Critical Care Medicine and Surgery, University of Florence, Florence, 50134, Italy
Francesco Tonelli, Department of Clinical Physiopathology, University of Florence, Florence, 50134, Italy
Carlos A Rubio, Department of Pathology, Karolinska Institute and University Hospital, Stockholm, 17176, Sweden
Gabriella Nesi, Division of Pathological Anatomy, Department of Critical Care Medicine and Surgery, University of Florence, Florence, 50134, Italy
Author contributions: Nobili S, Bechi P, Tonelli F, Rubio CA, Mini E and Nesi G conceived and designed the study; Bruno L, Landini I and Napoli C acquired and analyzed the data; Nobili S and Nesi G wrote the paper; Bechi P, Tonelli F, Rubio CA and Mini E revised the paper critically for important intellectual content.
Supported by Ente Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze
Correspondence to: Gabriella Nesi, MD, PhD, Division of Pathological Anatomy, Department of Critical Care Medicine and Surgery, University of Florence, Viale G.B. Morgagni 85, Florence, 50134, Italy. gabriella.nesi@unifi.it
Telephone: +39-55-4478114 Fax: +39-55-4379868
Received: April 27, 2010
Revised: August 9, 2010
Accepted: August 16, 2010
Published online: January 21, 2011
Abstract

Gastric cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, although the incidence has gradually decreased in many Western countries. Two main gastric cancer histotypes, intestinal and diffuse, are recognised. Although most of the described genetic alterations have been observed in both types, different genetic pathways have been hypothesized. Genetic and epigenetic events, including 1q loss of heterozygosity (LOH), microsatellite instability and hypermethylation, have mostly been reported in intestinal-type gastric carcinoma and its precursor lesions, whereas 17p LOH, mutation or loss of E-cadherin are more often implicated in the development of diffuse-type gastric cancer. In this review, we summarize the sometimes contradictory findings regarding those markers which influence the progression of gastric adenocarcinoma.

Keywords: Gastric cancer; Gene alterations; Prognosis; Molecular pathology