Matthew Shinkle , 2025-05-12 16:03:00
Key takeaways:
- Over the past 2 decades, detection of early-stage gastric cancer has increased by more than 50%.
- This finding may be attributed to improved endoscopic imaging and increased utilization of upper endoscopy.
SAN DIEGO — Detection of early-stage gastric cancer has become more common over the past 2 decades, while diagnosis of advanced-stage disease has been steadily declining, according to data presented at Digestive Disease Week.
Researchers noted these trends may be related to advancements in endoscopic imaging and increased utilization of upper endoscopy, among other factors.
Data derived from Siddiqui MT, et al. A two-decade evolution in early gastric cancer detection: Patterns and insights from SEER data. Presented at: Digestive Disease Week; May 3-6; San Diego.
Mohamed Tausif Siddiqui
“This started for us with getting quite a high number of patients into our practice who are referred for resection with localized disease, we wondered whether this was unique to our center or a nationwide trend” Mohamed Tausif Siddiqui, MD, a gastroenterology fellow at Cleveland Clinic, told Healio.
Gastric cancer diagnosed at advanced stages is associated with poor survival, but detection during early stages allows for several therapeutic interventions to improve outcomes, according to study background.
Recent advancements in endoscopic technology and an increase in the volume of upper endoscopies performed have potential to improve early detection and treatment.
To evaluate the impact of such advancements over the past 20-plus years, Siddiqui and colleagues conducted a retrospective analysis of data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results-22 database.
They analyzed the data from 2000-2021 which showed that the overall age-adjusted incidence of gastric cancer of any stage decreased from 8.44 per 100,000 (95% CI, 7.82-8.41) in 2000 to 7.53 per 100,000 (95% CI, 7.4-7.66) in 2021.
The incidence was lowest in 2020 at 6.42 per 100,000, a finding researchers speculate is likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a reduction in endoscopy performed nationwide.
Notably, overall incidence of early or localized gastric cancer increased approximately 53% from 2004 to 2021 — from 1.94 per 100,000 to 2.97 per 100,000 — while incidence of regional metastasis dropped 38% (2.4 per 100,000 to 1.49 per 100,000).
Distant metastasis incidence also steadily declined by 7.8% during this time, from 2.6 per 100,000 to 2.4 per 100,000.
Additionally, 2021 appeared to be the first year in which early-stage stomach cancer became the most common stage for patients to be diagnosed, surpassing advanced-stage cases.
“These data underscore the importance of timely endoscopic management of early lesions; missing this window risks subsequent metastatic progression.,” Siddiqui told Healio.
He emphasized that the study did not assess whether these changes have affected mortality rates or why younger patients are being diagnosed. However, the data highlight the importance of early detection and the potential to treat patients at more favorable stages of disease.
For more information:
Mohamed Tausif Siddiqui, MD, can be reached at gastroenterology@healio.com.
Sources/Disclosures
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Siddiqui MT, et al. A two-decade evolution in early gastric cancer detection: Patterns and insights from SEER data. Presented at: Digestive Disease Week; May 3-6, 2025; San Diego.
Disclosures:
Siddiqui reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the study for all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.
