Molecular pathology of familial gastric cancer
Abstract
Gastric cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Familial clustering is observed in about 10% of the cases and 1-3% is hereditary. In the latter group, a syndrome has been well characterised − the hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) − which is specifically associated with CDH1 (E-cadherin) germline mutations in about 30% of the families. In this article we review the state of the art of familial gastric cancer regarding the clinical, molecular and pathology features, as well as the practical aspects for a correct diagnosis and clinical management.
