Understanding the epidemiology of gastric cancer: a review and case-only analysis from Italy.

Background: Gastric cancer epidemiology evolved rapidly in the last century, shifting from being one of the main causes of cancer-related death to the sixth in high-income countries.

Methods: We conducted a narrative review on gastric cancer epidemiology. Our review focused on trends of gastric cancer and its relationship with Helicobacter pylori infection; cardia and noncardia gastric cancer risk factors; early onset gastric cancer; second primary cancers in patients with gastric cancer; and implementation of gastric cancer prevention strategies. In addition, we provided results of a case-only analysis of recently diagnosed gastric cancer from a middle-risk population.

Results: Literature consistently describes the ongoing declining trend of gastric cancer rates and the overall increase in in absolute number of incident cases because of a change in population. The evolving distribution of risk factor prevalence impacts the epidemiology of gastric cancer, with an increase in early onset and in cardia gastric cancer. A negative correlation was observed between H. pylori prevalence and the proportion of cardia gastric cancer. The analysis of 117 gastric cancer cases observed between 2016 and 2020 in Bologna, Italy, showed that smoking and epigastric pain were significantly associated with increased risk of early-onset gastric cancer after accounting for confounders.

Conclusion: Multifaceted strategies are needed to address challenges in gastric cancer control, early diagnosis, and clinical management in a changing epidemiological landscape. Prevention remains the cornerstone to reduce the gastric cancer burden.