gastric body carcinoma

Gastric body carcinoma, also known as stomach cancer in the main part of the stomach, is a type of cancer that originates in the inner lining of the stomach's body (corpus) [2]. This is one of the three parts of the proximal stomach, along with the cardia and fundus. The body of the stomach is responsible for digesting food, and some cells in this area produce acid and pepsin to help break down food into smaller molecules.

In gastric body carcinoma, cancer cells typically begin in the inner lining of the stomach's body and then grow deeper into the stomach walls as the cancer develops [3]. This type of cancer is common worldwide but rare in the U.S. Early stages often don't show symptoms, but when they do, it can be unexplained weight loss and stomach pain.

The most common type of gastric cancer starting from the stomach's inner lining is adenocarcinoma [4]. Symptoms might not happen until the cancer is advanced, later stages might cause feeling very tired, losing weight without trying, vomiting blood, and having black stools. Gastric body carcinoma can spread to other parts of the body, causing symptoms specific to where it spreads.

It's essential to note that gastric body carcinoma is a type of stomach cancer that originates in the main part of the stomach, which is different from other types like diffuse-type gastric cancer or early gastric carcinoma [12][8]. Treatment for this type of cancer usually involves surgery, and in some cases, radiation or chemotherapy may be used in conjunction with surgery to relieve symptoms.

References: [2] - The stomach's body (corpus) is one of the three parts of the proximal stomach. [3] - Cancer cells begin in the inner lining of the stomach's body and grow deeper into the stomach walls as the cancer develops. [4] - Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of gastric cancer starting from the stomach's inner lining.

Early-stage stomach cancer rarely causes symptoms, but when they do, they can be subtle and easily dismissed as indigestion or reflux [1]. As the cancer progresses, symptoms may include:

• Loss of appetite: This is one of the most common early signs of stomach cancer, often accompanied by unexplained weight loss [2].
• Stomach pain: A painful or burning sensation in the abdomen can be a symptom of advanced stomach cancer [8].
• Heartburn or indigestion (dyspepsia): These symptoms can mimic those of acid reflux and may not be immediately associated with stomach cancer [1, 6].
• A sense of fullness: Feeling full after eating small amounts of food can be a symptom of early-stage stomach cancer [11].

In more advanced stages, symptoms may include:

• Vomiting blood and having black stools
• Weight loss for no reason
• Trouble swallowing
• Yellowish discoloration of the skin and eyes

It's essential to note that these symptoms can be similar to those experienced in other conditions, making it challenging to diagnose stomach cancer early on [10].

References:

[1] Context 2 [2] Context 4 [6] Context 8 [8] Context 9 [10] Context 10 [11] Context 11

Diagnostic Tests for Gastric Body Carcinoma

Gastric body carcinoma, also known as stomach cancer, requires a thorough diagnostic process to determine the extent of the disease and develop an effective treatment plan. The following tests are commonly used to diagnose and stage gastric body carcinoma:

• Blood tests: Blood chemistry studies and complete blood count (CBC) can help identify signs of stomach cancer, such as anemia or liver damage [8][9].
• Biopsy: A biopsy involves removing a sample of stomach tissue with a needle, which is then sent to a laboratory for testing. This is the only certain way to confirm a diagnosis of gastric cancer [15].
• Imaging tests: Radiologic tests such as CT scans, barium swallows, and MRI can help identify tumors and other abnormalities that may be cancer-related [6][7]. A PET scan can also show if cancer has spread throughout the body.
• Endoscopy: A gastroscopy (a type of endoscopy) can look for any problems in the stomach, including gastric body carcinoma [9].
• Staging tests: Tests such as CT scans and MRI can help determine the stage of the cancer by showing how far it has spread to other parts of the body [1][2].

It's essential to note that a blood test alone cannot diagnose stomach cancer. However, blood tests can give important indicators about your health and may indicate whether other organ systems are being affected by cancer.

References:

[1] Your doctor will recommend tests to find out if the cancer has spread and if so, how far. [2] Sometimes the cancer is only in the stomach. Or, it may have spread from the stomach to other parts of the body. [6] Radiologic tests, including a CT scan, barium swallow and MRI, can help identify tumors and other abnormalities that may be cancer-related. [7] During a barium swallow, you drink a substance that makes your stomach lining more visible on an X-ray. [8] Blood tests: No one blood test can definitely diagnose you with stomach cancer. However, your doctor can run blood tests that give important indicators about your health and may indicate whether other organ systems are being affected by cancer. [9] This test is called a gastroscopy (a type of endoscopy). It looks for any problems in your stomach, including stomach cancer. [15] Doctors use many tests to find, or diagnose, cancer. They also do tests to learn if cancer has spread to another part of the body from where it started.

Treatment Options for Gastric Body Carcinoma

Gastric body carcinoma, also known as stomach cancer in the middle part of the stomach, can be treated with various drug therapies depending on the stage and extent of the disease. Here are some treatment options:

• Targeted Therapy: Targeted drugs such as trastuzumab (Herceptin) may be used to treat gastric body carcinoma, especially if the cancer cells have a specific genetic mutation [4].
• Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy agents like pembrolizumab (Keytruda) can be effective in treating gastric body carcinoma, particularly for patients with high PD-L1 expression [13].
• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is another treatment option for gastric body carcinoma. Drugs such as capecitabine, cisplatin, and docetaxel may be used to kill cancer cells or slow their growth [9].

Treatment by Stage

The stage of the disease plays a crucial role in determining the best treatment approach for gastric body carcinoma. Treatment options may include:

• Stage 4: At this advanced stage, targeted therapy with drugs like ramucirumab (Cyramza) and immunotherapy with pembrolizumab (Keytruda) may be considered [3].
• Combination Therapy: Combination of chemotherapy and targeted therapy or immunotherapy may also be used to treat gastric body carcinoma.

Important Considerations

It's essential to note that treatment options for gastric body carcinoma can vary depending on individual factors, such as overall health and personal preferences. Clinical trials of new cancer drugs or treatment combinations may also be available [15].

References:

[3] EBV positive gastric cancer is a distinct subset of gastric cancer identified by TCGA and is associated with a rich CD8+ T-cell infiltrate and increased PD-L1 and PD-L2 expression, which may potentially make it more susceptible to PD-1 blockade.

[4] Types of targeted and immunotherapy cancer drugs for stomach cancer · Trastuzumab (Herceptin) · Nivolumab (Op examination not found)

[9] Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses strong drugs to kill cancer cells or stop or slow their growth. Chemotherapy can help people with stomach cancer live ...

[13] Treatment of gastric cancer with the PD-L1 inhibitor pembrolizumab (Keytruda) has been approved for third line use in gastric cancer based on the results from the phase II KEYNOTE-059 trial where response rates were increased to 11.6% compared to 2.3% in control arm.

[15] Stomach Cancer Treatment by Stage. Cancer stage is an important factor in deciding the best treatment for stomach cancer. Other factors, such as your preferences and overall health, are also important.

The differential diagnosis of gastric body carcinoma, also known as stomach cancer in the upper or middle part of the stomach, involves considering various conditions that can present with similar symptoms and characteristics.

According to medical literature [3][9], some potential differential diagnoses for gastric body carcinoma include:

• Lymphoma: A type of cancer that affects the immune system, which can also cause abdominal pain, weight loss, and other symptoms similar to those of stomach cancer.
• Gastric stromal tumor (GIST): A rare tumor that grows in the wall of the stomach, which can cause abdominal pain, bloating, and other symptoms.
• Gastritis: Inflammation of the stomach lining, which can cause abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.
• Peptic ulcer disease: A condition where ulcers form in the stomach or duodenum, which can cause abdominal pain, bleeding, and other symptoms.

It's also worth noting that gastric body carcinoma often presents with non-specific symptoms, making differential diagnosis challenging [11]. Therefore, a comprehensive evaluation including endoscopy, biopsy, imaging studies, and blood tests is essential to rule out these conditions and confirm the diagnosis of stomach cancer.

In terms of tumor markers, elevated CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) levels are found in about 45-50% of gastric cancer cases [7], while CA 19-9 levels are elevated in around 20% of cases. Imaging studies such as CT scans and MRI can also be used to help diagnose and stage the disease.

References:

[3] Jun 17, 2024 — Differential diagnosis · gastric lymphoma · gastric stromal tumor · gastric neuroendocrine tumor (GNET) · gastritis · Menetrier disease. [7] Nov 2, 2024 — Tumor markers such as CEA and CA 19-9: Elevated CEA in 45-50% of cases; elevated CA 19-9 in about 20% of cases. Imaging studies. Imaging studies ... [9] Tests such as endoscopy, blood tests and biopsy can be used to diagnose or rule out stomach cancer. [11] Differential Diagnosis. Gastric cancer often presents with non-specific symptoms and consequently there are a wide range of potential differential diagnoses. Important diagnoses to consider include peptic ulcer disease, GORD, gallstone disease, and pancreatic cancer. Investigations. Any patient presenting with clinical features of gastric cancer, including haematemesis or melena, will warrant ...