Gastric Cancer Registry Data Leads to New Discoveries

Data from the Gastric Cancer Registry at Stanford University Medical Center has led to important new discoveries, according to primary investigator Hanlee Ji, MD, Professor of Medicine at Stanford. Ji reports that the registry’s research team has discovered a specific error in the genetic code of gastric cancers that indicates why some stomach cancers may respond to immune-based therapies while others do not. In another recent study, the team used registry samples to identify a potential new immunotherapy combination which may have improved responses.

The registry team is now leveraging the newest molecular technologies to provide even more valuable information. This includes an approach called “spatial analysis” – a cutting-edge tool which enables scientists to characterize the different biological cells within a patient’s tumor. This type of analysis reveals how tumor cells “talk” to the surrounding stomach tissue and change adjacent tissues to support cancer growth. This work will lead to the identification of additional new therapeutic targets.