Abstract
Background and Objective. Gastric cancer is a frequent cause of cancer mortality. The prognosis of established tumor is unfavorable due to the propensity to spread and limited treatment efficiency. Therefore, prevention has a high significance. We tested a population screening approach in order to identify families with an increased gastric cancer load for further surveillance.
Material and Methods. Population screening was performed by questionnaire reaching 76.6% of the population. Hereditary gastric cancer (HGC) syndrome was diagnosed if 3 mutually first-degree relatives with gastric cancer were reported in the kindred. Additional group (HGC2) of families with 2 first-degree relatives affected by gastric cancer was identified.
Results. The HGC syndrome was diagnosed in 0.11%, but HGC2 syndrome, in 0.4% probands. The gastric cancer frequency among blood relatives was 25.2% (95% CI, 20.6%–30.4%) in HGC, but 16.0% (95% CI, 13.8%–18.5%) in HGC2 families. The mean age at diagnosis of cancer was 56.9 years (95% CI, 53.4–60.3) in HGC and 62.5 years (95% CI, 60.1–64.8) in HGC2. The mean survival was 2.6 years (95% CI, 1.2–4.0).
Conclusions. Population screening identifies reasonable number of families with a high frequency of gastric cancer. The frequency of gastric cancer and an unfavorable course characterized by low survival justify surveillance in families with 2 or 3 first-degree relatives affected by gastric cancer. Population screening provides the age characteristics of the respective tumors in order to adjust the surveillance schedule.
Material and Methods. Population screening was performed by questionnaire reaching 76.6% of the population. Hereditary gastric cancer (HGC) syndrome was diagnosed if 3 mutually first-degree relatives with gastric cancer were reported in the kindred. Additional group (HGC2) of families with 2 first-degree relatives affected by gastric cancer was identified.
Results. The HGC syndrome was diagnosed in 0.11%, but HGC2 syndrome, in 0.4% probands. The gastric cancer frequency among blood relatives was 25.2% (95% CI, 20.6%–30.4%) in HGC, but 16.0% (95% CI, 13.8%–18.5%) in HGC2 families. The mean age at diagnosis of cancer was 56.9 years (95% CI, 53.4–60.3) in HGC and 62.5 years (95% CI, 60.1–64.8) in HGC2. The mean survival was 2.6 years (95% CI, 1.2–4.0).
Conclusions. Population screening identifies reasonable number of families with a high frequency of gastric cancer. The frequency of gastric cancer and an unfavorable course characterized by low survival justify surveillance in families with 2 or 3 first-degree relatives affected by gastric cancer. Population screening provides the age characteristics of the respective tumors in order to adjust the surveillance schedule.