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World J Gastroenterol. Jul 21, 2014; 20(27): 8986-8992
Published online Jul 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i27.8986
Novel findings about management of gastric cancer: A summary from 10th IGCC
Danila Penon, Letizia Cito, Antonio Giordano
Danila Penon, Department of Biochemistry and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
Letizia Cito, Antonio Giordano, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori “Fondazione Giovanni Pascale”, IRCCS, 80131 Naples, Italy
Antonio Giordano, Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19122, United States
Antonio Giordano, Center of Biotechnology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, United States
Antonio Giordano, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
Author contributions: Penon D and Cito L attended the meeting and prepared the manuscript; Cito L revised the language; Giordano A analyzed the manuscript and gave his final approval.
Correspondence to: Antonio Giordano, MD PhD, Director of Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, 1801 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19122, United States. giordano@temple.edu
Telephone: +1-215-2049520 Fax: +1-215-2049522
Received: October 31, 2013
Revised: March 17, 2014
Accepted: April 5, 2014
Published online: July 21, 2014
Processing time: 262 Days and 22.8 Hours
Abstract

The Tenth International Gastric Cancer Congress (IGCC) was held in Verona, Italy, from June 19 to 22, 2013. The meeting enclosed various aspects of stomach tumor management, including both tightly clinical approaches, and topics more related to basic research. Moreover, an overview on gastrointestinal stromal tumors was provided too, although here not discussed. Here we will discuss some topics related to molecular biology of gastric cancer (GC), inherent to prognostic, diagnostic and therapeutic tools shown at the conference. Results about well known subjects, such as E-cadherin loss of expression/function, were presented. They revealed that other mutations of the gene were identified, showing a continuous research to improve diagnosis and prognosis of stomach tumor. Simultaneously, new possible molecular markers with an established role for other neoplasms, were discussed, such as mesothelin, stomatin-like protein 2 and Notch-1. Hence, a wide overview including both old and new diagnostic/prognostic tools was offered. Great attention was also dedicated to possible drugs to be used against GC. They included monoclonal antibodies, such as MS57-2.1, drugs used in other pathologies, such as maraviroc, and natural extracts from plants such as biflorin. We would like to contribute to summarize the most impressive studies presented at the IGCC, concerning novel findings about molecular biology of gastric cancer. Although further investigations will be necessary, it can be inferred that more and more tools were developed, so as to better face stomach neoplasms.

Keywords: Gastric cancer; Prognostic tools; Markers; Therapy

Core tip: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common tumors in the world, although scientists’ knowledge about this neoplasm grew in the last years. In June, an international meeting (10th International Gastric Cancer Congress), focused on GC management, was held in Verona (Italy). It gave an overview about the state-of-the-art stomach tumor treatments, including chemotherapy, surgical therapies and nutritional support. Moreover, several new possible prognostic markers were shown. Here we report a summary of novel findings taken from some molecular biology sessions, focused on prognosis and treatment of GC.