Updated Epidemiology of Gastric Cancer in Asia: Decreased Incidence but Still a Big Challenge

Despite the decline in incidence and mortality rates, gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. The incidence and mortality of GC are exceptionally high in Asia due to high H. pylori infection, dietary habits, smoking behaviors, and heavy alcohol consumption. In Asia, males are more susceptible to developing GC than females. Variations in H. pylori strains and prevalence rates may contribute to the differences in incidence and mortality rates across Asian countries. Large-scale H. pylori eradication was one of the effective ways to reduce GC incidences. Treatment methods and clinical trials have evolved, but the 5-year survival rate of advanced GC is still low. Efforts should be put towards large-scale screening and early diagnosis, precision medicine, and deep mechanism studies on the interplay of GC cells and microenvironments for dealing with peritoneal metastasis and prolonging patients' survival.

Automated summary

Despite declining rates, gastric cancer remains a major cause of cancer deaths worldwide, particularly in Asia due to high H. pylori infection rates and lifestyle factors. Variations in H. pylori strains and prevalence contribute to differences in incidence and mortality. Large-scale eradication efforts have been effective, but the 5-year survival rate for advanced cases remains low. More focus is needed on screening, early diagnosis, precision medicine, and understanding the interplay between cancer cells and microenvironments for better treatment outcomes.