Scientists Uncover Possible New Cause of Stomach Cancer

• 20 Mar 2025

In March 2025, researchers published new findings on somatic mutations in stomach lining tissue, revealing insights into cancer development.

Key Points:

• New Mutational Insights: Scientists found that nearly 10% of the gastric lining by age 60 contains cancer-related "driver" mutations.
• Potential Unknown Mutagen: Some individuals had cells with three copies of certain chromosomes (trisomy), suggesting exposure to an unknown external factor.
• Study Methodology: Researchers sequenced 238 normal stomach tissue samples from 30 individuals across Hong Kong, the US, and the UK.
• Impact of Stomach Acid: Despite exposure to stomach acid, mutation rates in normal gastric glands were similar to other body tissues, indicating protective mechanisms.
• Cancerous vs. Normal Cells: In individuals with gastric cancer, some normal-looking glands had mutations resembling early-stage cancer development.
• Global Stomach Cancer Burden: Stomach cancer is the fifth most common cancer worldwide, with nearly one million cases in 2022, primarily in East Asia and South America.
• Inflammation Link: Chronic inflammation, often due to H. pylori infection, increases the presence of driver mutations, raising the risk of stomach cancer.