National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Stomach cancer


Other Names:
Adult stomach cancer; Adult stomach carcinoma; Stomach carcinoma; Adult stomach cancer; Adult stomach carcinoma; Stomach carcinoma; Gastric cancer See More
Categories:
Stomach cancer, also called gastric cancer, is a form of cancer that occurs due to abnormal and uncontrolled cell growth in the stomach. Most people with early stomach cancer have no signs or symptoms of the condition. In advanced stages, symptoms may include indigestion; nausea and vomiting; difficulty swallowing; feeling full after eating small amounts of food; loss of appetite; vomiting blood; fatigue; and/or weight loss. Most cases of stomach cancer occur sporadically in people with little to no family history of the condition; however, approximately 10% of stomach cancers are considered "familial." Although the underlying cause of some familial cases is unknown, genetic changes (mutations) are identified in a subset of people affected by stomach cancer. Hereditary cancer syndromes associated with a predisposition to stomach cancer include hereditary diffuse gastric cancer, Lynch syndrome, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis, and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. In other families, a cluster of stomach cancers may be due to a combination of gene(s) and/or other shared factors such as environment and lifestyle. The best treatment options for stomach cancer depend on many factors including the stage of the condition and may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and/or targeted therapy (such as monoclonal antibody therapy).[1][2]
Last updated: 12/15/2015

FDA-Approved Treatments

The medication(s) listed below have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as orphan products for treatment of this condition. Learn more orphan products.

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Stomach cancer. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

    Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

Living with a genetic or rare disease can impact the daily lives of patients and families. These resources can help families navigate various aspects of living with a rare disease.

Financial Resources

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • The American Cancer Society provides information on Stomach cancer. Please click on the link to access this resource.
  • Mayo Clinic has an information page on Stomach cancer.
  • MedlinePlus was designed by the National Library of Medicine to help you research your health questions, and it provides more information about this topic.
  • The National Cancer Institute provides the most current information on cancer for patients, health professionals, and the general public.

In-Depth Information

  • Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Stomach cancer. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know. Submit a new question

  • My father passed away due to stomach cancer at the age of 35 when I was 8 years old. Now I am 32 and I am starting to wonder a little more about the type of cancer he had and how hereditary it is. I stumbled across HDGC on the Internet and panicked a bit, especially now that I am a parent. Due to his death being so long ago, medical records and pathology would no longer be available. There were no other stomach cancer cases in his side of the family that I'm aware of. However I am blood type A and I'm pretty sure that makes me more susceptible. I'd really appreciate some guidance on where to go from here! I've been very anxious about it recently. See answer


  1. Cabebe EC. Gastric Cancer. Medscape Reference. November, 2015; http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/278744-overview.
  2. Stomach (Gastric) Cancer—Patient Version. National Cancer Institute. June 2015; http://www.cancer.gov/types/stomach.