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Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer (HDGC)

Posted by Karen Chelcun Schreiber On January - 29 - 2010

Gastric cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death in the world.

The American Cancer Society estimated that 21,500 new cases of stomach (gastric) cancer would be diagnosed in the United States in 2008.1 Because gastric cancer is difficult to diagnose, it is often discovered in patients at a late stage with a poor prognosis. The treatment for gastric cancer is surgery and chemotherapy;2 however, the overall 5-year survival rate is low, at 24.3%.1

It is estimated that 1-3% of cases of gastric cancer are caused by Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer.2 Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) is an inherited cancer syndrome that leads to an increased risk for both diffuse gastric cancer and lobular breast cancer in women. Patients who inherit the genetic mutation for HDGC are at high risk for developing gastric cancer at a young age.3 Read the rest of this entry »

Education, Front, Genetics, HDGC, Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer, Lobular Breast Cancer

HDGC and the Increased Risk of Lobular Breast Cancer

Posted by Johanna Chelcun On August - 25 - 2009

by Johanna Chelcun, MHS, PA-C

 

Scientific Background

The role of the E-cadherin protein affected by CDH1 gene mutations is adhesion of adjacent cells in certain tissues of the body.   In patients with a CDH1 gene mutation, the loss of E-cadherin is thought to lead to invasive tumors, most often in the lining of the stomach.  However, a form of breast cancer called lobular breast cancer has also been associated with the CDH1 gene mutation and hereditary diffuse gastric cancer.

Lobular breast cancer caused by CDH1 mutations cause cancerous cells to be scattered throughout the breast tissue, making the cancer difficult to diagnose (much like hereditary diffuse gastric cancer).  Additionally, the same type of cancer cells, called signet ring cells, are found in both lobular breast cancer and diffuse gastric cancers.  This helps to solidify a relationship between the CDH1 gene mutation and an increased risk of both diffuse gastric cancer and lobular breast cancer.  To date, lobular breast cancer is the only cancer besides gastric that is known to occur at increased rates in families affected by a CDH1 gene mutation. Read the rest of this entry »

Education, Front, Genetics, HDGC, Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer, Lobular Breast Cancer

Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer (HDGC): A Resource for You

Posted by Karen Chelcun Schreiber On June - 13 - 2009

HDGC...Now What?

Be sure to visit HDGC…Now What?

 

You, or someone close to you has been diagnosed with HDGC.  Now what?  The search is on, for information, for support, for encouragement.

  
We are committed to developing this network, a valuable source of credible and useful information.  Join our community of support for all of those touched by HDGC or other types of stomach cancer.  Your participation can be as little or as much as you desire.  You decide. Read the rest of this entry »

Education, Families, Fundraising, Gastrectomy, General, Genetics, Get Involved, HDGC, Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer, Lobular Breast Cancer, Mind, Body, Spirit, News, Nutrition, Pregnancy, Research

Cancer Genetics Group in Portugal: Focus on the genetics of gastric, breast, and colorectal carcinoma

Posted by Karen Chelcun Schreiber On May - 22 - 2009

Group name/Designation:

Cancer Genetics

 

Group Leader:

Raquel Seruca

Principal Investigators related to gastric cancer research:
Carla Oliveira ( HDGC molecular genetics),
Fátima Carneiro ( Molecular Pathology),
Gianpaolo Suriano and Jose Carlos Machado ( Gastric cancer related signalling pathways)
Céu Figueiredo (Helicobacter pylori related research)

 

Principal Investigators related to breast cancer research:
Joana Paredes (Signalling pathways related to breast cancer invasion), 
Fernando Schmitt ( Molecular pathology),

Location of the Group (Host- Institution):

 IPATIMUP, Porto, Portugal

  

General Objectives of the Group

The research of our group focuses on the genetics of three common types of epithelial cancer: gastric, breast, and colorectal carcinoma. We focus at identifying 1) germline genetic alterations (high and low penetrance genes) associated with increased risk of these tumours; 2) pathological features and somatic molecular markers occurring in the setting of hereditary and sporadic carcinomas; 3) signalling pathways mediated by genetic and gene-environmental factors in tumour development in order to find molecular targets for therapeutic intervention. Read the rest of this entry »

Front, HDGC, Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer, Lobular Breast Cancer, Research

Genes, cancer are ties that bind

Posted by Karen Chelcun Schreiber On December - 7 - 2007

aimee-mury
By Judith Graham
Tribune staff reporter

December 2007

 

Five months before she died of a rare form of stomach cancer, Sandra McNamara uncovered a devastating family legacy.

Her illness was closely linked to a genetic mutation. She had it, and that meant her three sisters and their children might have it too.

McNamara picked up the phone and started calling relatives in Chicago, Boston and Denver. You need to know, she told them. This cancer is hereditary. Get tested. Find out if you’re at risk.
Read the rest of this entry »

Families, Genetics, Lobular Breast Cancer, News
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    • Karen Chelcun Schreiber wrote a new blog post: A story of hope: Elizabeth Lambert shares her family story   2 hours, 21 minutes ago

      Elizabeth Lambert, a teacher and a member of the Board of Directors of No Stomach For Cancer, Inc., is dedicated to raising awareness and educating the public about diffuse stomach cancer.  Like many others, her family has been affected by a hereditary form of stomach cancer. 

      The Chronicle aired a program about genetics on January 22, [...]

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