Review
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World J Med Genet. Aug 27, 2014; 4(3): 58-68
Published online Aug 27, 2014. doi: 10.5496/wjmg.v4.i3.58
Molecular genetics of gastric adenocarcinoma in clinical practice
Margaret Cho, Ogechukwu Eze, Ruliang Xu
Margaret Cho, Ogechukwu Eze, Ruliang Xu, Department of Pathology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, United States
Author contributions: Cho M and Eze O searched for literatures and wrote portions of manuscript; Xu R wrote and edited the majority of manuscript.
Correspondence to: Ruliang Xu, MD, PhD, Department of Pathology, New York University Langone Medical Center, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016, United States. ruliang.xu@nyumc.org
Telephone: +1-212-2630728 Fax: +1-212-2637916
Received: December 24, 2013
Revised: April 16, 2014
Accepted: May 15, 2014
Published online: August 27, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: Intestinal and diffuse cell types of gastric carcinoma have a significant difference in clinical outcome with different molecular pathogenetic pathways. Intestinal type gastric carcinoma (GC) is associated with chromosomal and/or microsatellite instability, mutation of tumor suppressor genes, and loss of heterozygosity. Diffuse type GC is commonly associated with mutation of the E-cadherin gene, and a manifestation of the hereditary gastric cancer syndrome. Detection of certain mutations may aid in early diagnosis, screening, and prognostication of GC, and common genetic alterations may offer therapeutic targets for treatment. Furthermore, potential therapeutic biomarkers for GC are under investigation and may hold future promise.