Gastric Cancer Information

What is Gastric Cancer?

Gastric cancer, or stomach cancer, is cancer that develops in the lining of the stomach. Part of the gastrointestinal (digestive) system, the stomach is a sac-like organ that holds food for digestion. It is located in the upper abdomen, between the esophagus and the small intestine.

Gastric cancer is more common among older adults, with approximately two-thirds of gastric cancer patients in the Unites States being older than the age of 65.

Types of Gastric Cancer

There are a number of different types of gastric cancer. Most gastric cancers are adenocarcinomas, or cancer which arises in glandular tissue, or the cells lining the mucosa (innermost layer of the stomach).

Adenocarcinoma can be broken down into two types. Type 1 usually occurs in the part of the stomach closest to the small intestine and often results from chronic infection or diet. Type 2 can occur throughout the stomach and is often the result of genetic factors.

Other types of gastric cancer are soft tissue sarcomas. The most common type of these cancers is leiomyosarcoma. Other tumors found in the stomach include lymphomas, gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), and carcinoid tumors.

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