Stomach cancer is currently the 4th most common malignancy and the 2nd leading cause of cancer-related death. The incidence of stomach cancer appears to have decreased in most developed countries, as a result of dietary changes, improvements in food preparation and storage methods, and other environmental factors.
However, in general, the prognosis for stomach cancer remains poor, with a 5-year survival rate ranging from 5-15%. The only proven therapeutic approach is surgical treatment, which aims for the radical removal of the macroscopic disease as well as its microscopic foci.