Stomach cancer

Disease description

Stomach cancer is a malignant neoplasm that forms on the mucous membrane of the stomach. As it grows, it affects other layers, up to and including perforation — a “hole” in the organ. The disease typically occurs in people aged 40-60 years and affects men 1.5-2 times more often. Worldwide, stomach cancer ranks fifth among all cancer types.

The five-year survival rate for stomach cancer diagnosed at an early stage is 80%, and in some cases, the tumor is completely curable. According to statistics, half of all patients seek medical help only after obvious symptoms appear and stage IV of the disease develops. The five-year survival rate in such cases does not exceed 10%.

Symptoms indicating the need for diagnosis and treatment

The early stages of tumor development in the stomach are usually asymptomatic. Cancer may not manifest for a long time, but characteristic symptoms appear later:

• Quick satiety with a small amount of food: after eating, there is a feeling of bloating, heaviness, and discomfort
• Frequent belching and heartburn: dysfunction of the cardiac sphincter (between the stomach and esophagus)
• Nausea and episodic vomiting: occur immediately after eating, sometimes with blood
• Stomach pain: located in the upper abdomen, radiating to the sternum
• Rapid exhaustion: tumor growth requires a large amount of energy from surrounding tissues
• Sudden weight loss: due to changes in appetite and impaired absorption of nutrients from food
• Dark stool: feces take on an almost black color due to the presence of blood

Diagnosis and treatment methods

Diagnosis

Fibrogastroduodenoscopy (FGDS): this procedure allows visualization of tumor formations, heterogeneous structures, ulcers, and erosions

Capsule endoscopy: enables visualization of areas that a standard flexible endoscope cannot reach

Endoscopic ultrasound (endosonography): helps accurately determine the depth of tumor invasion and detect changes in regional lymph nodes

Breath test: an ultramodern diagnostic method presented by scientists at the European Congress, based on analysis of exhaled air

Radiological examination: detects defects in the stomach walls and sphincters

Computed tomography (CT, PET-CT): determines the presence of metastases and the extent of tumor spread

Blood test for tumor markers: for stomach cancer, three tumor markers are measured: CA 19-9, CA 72-4, and CEA

Treatment

Oncologists at the world’s leading clinics are experts in the treatment of stomach cancer. When choosing the most effective treatment plan, they take into account factors such as tumor size, spread, presence of metastases, as well as the patient’s current condition and comorbidities.

Surgical treatment

Subtotal or total gastrectomy — complete or partial removal of the stomach performed via endoscopic or laparoscopic access, as well as using the da Vinci robot

Chemotherapy

European clinics use modern cytoreductive surgery in combination with hyperthermic intraoperative chemotherapy (HIPEC)

Metastasis embolization

Doctors at advanced global gastroenterology centers offer metastasis embolization — a procedure that blocks the blood vessels feeding the tumor

Radiation therapy

Stereotactic radiation using next-generation linear accelerators with programmable parameters for the irradiated tumor (area, volume)

Targeted therapy

Selective action of the drug on cancer cells and their destruction (healthy cells are not affected by this type of therapy)

Innovations in global clinics

For stomach cancer, immunotherapy is included in the treatment regimen — checkpoint inhibitors targeting the PD-1 and PD-L1 proteins. These drugs do not contain substances that destroy cancer cells, which makes them well tolerated. Their mechanism of action involves activating the immune system for a natural response against the tumor.