| Theme |
Risk Factors and Prevention of Gastric Cancer |
| Title |
New Risk Factor for Gastric Cancer Screening |
| Author |
Shotaro Enomoto |
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Wakayama Medical University |
| Author |
Takao Maekita |
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Wakayama Medical University |
| Author |
Kazuyuki Nakazawa |
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Wakayama Medical University |
| Author |
Kimihiko Yanaoka |
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Wakayama Medical University |
| Author |
Masashi Oka |
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Wakayama Medical University |
| Author |
Masao Ichinose |
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Wakayama Medical University |
| [ Summary ] |
Prediction of the risk of gastric cancer individuals is important for implementing effective screening programs. More detailed elucidation of individuals at high-risk of cancer and application of new risk-markers for early gastric cancer detection are both sorely needed. Serum pepsinogen is a useful marker for diagnosing progression of atrophic gastritis. Addition of this serum test to cancer screening programs has been shown to improve cancer detection rates. Our recent data has revealed that serum pepsinogen levels and / or Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) antibody titers could offer very useful markers for future risk of gastric cancer. Several studies have also revealed that epigenetic alterations, such as aberrant DNA methylation, are deeply involved in gastric carcinogenesis. H. pylori infection is now widely accepted as a factor which induces DNA methylation of specific gene regions in the gastric mucosa to various degrees. DNA methylation levels of specific genes in the gastric mucosa, without current H. pylori infection, correlates with the risk of gastric cancer in individuals. The role of altered DNA methylation in the gastric mucosa as a predictor for gastric cancer risk and thus needs to be fully investigated. |