Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Research Highlight
  • Published:

Genetics

New molecular classification of gastric adenocarcinoma proposed by The Cancer Genome Atlas

Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology volume 11, page 577 (2014)Cite this article

Subjects

Currently, two histological classification systems are available to characterize gastric adenocarcinomas, which represents the majority of gastric tumours. The Lauren classification system comprises two subtypes (intestinal and diffuse) and the WHO classification has four subtypes (papillary, tubular, mucinous and poorly cohesive). Neither system is particularly clinically useful as their prognostic and predictive capabilities cannot adequately guide patient management. Now, The Cancer Genome Atlas research network has proposed a new classification scheme based on tumour molecular biology.

“There's a clear need for a more-refined genomic and molecular understanding of gastric cancer because it is one of the most common and treatment-refractory diseases,” explains lead investigator Adam Bass of the Dana–Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, USA. “To date, much of our efforts to develop new therapies have not had the benefit of robust systems to categorize the cancer and to identify key targets for individual patients.”

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. The Cancer Genome Atlas Research Network. Comprehensive molecular characterization of gastric adenocarcinoma. Nature doi:10.1038/nature13480

Download references

Authors
  1. Mina Razzak
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Razzak, M. New molecular classification of gastric adenocarcinoma proposed by The Cancer Genome Atlas. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 11, 577 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2014.146

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2014.146

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing