A Multicentre Prospective Cohort Study of The Gastric Precancerous Epithelial Pathway Using High-Definition Endoscopy And Histopathology In India

Overview

To estimate the prevalence of histologically confirmed early gastric cancer (EGC) in an Indian multicentre cohort undergoing standardized high-quality upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. EGC is defined as gastric adenocarcinoma confined to the mucosa or submucosa (T1), irrespective of lymph node status, based on histopathology.

Gastric adenocarcinoma is a major global health problem and remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Early detection significantly improves survival, with 5-year survival rates exceeding 80% in countries with established screening programmes, such as Japan (1) and South Korea (2). In contrast, most patients in India are diagnosed at advanced stages, resulting in poor outcomes. The Correa cascade (3) (4) describes a stepwise progression from chronic gastritis to atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia (IM), dysplasia, and invasive adenocarcinoma. Helicobacter pylori infection is a major driver of this pathway. Identifying and characterising gastric precancerous lesions provides an opportunity for surveillance and early intervention. India lacks high-quality multicentre data on the prevalence and spectrum of gastric precancerous lesions and early gastric cancer. This study aims to systematically evaluate the gastric precancerous epithelial pathway using high-definition endoscopy and standardised histopathology across multiple centres in India.

Conditions

Eligibility

Locations (1)

Outcomes

Central Contacts