The thinking to the huge disease burden of gastric cancer in China and the increasing tendency of esophagogastric junctional adenocarcinoma

Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancer and leading cause of cancer death worldwide (1). Although the overall incidence has been declining globally in recent years, gastric cancer remains a disease with high incidence and mortality, especially in Eastern Asia (1). In a recent issue of Gut (2), Colquhoun et al. has described the worldwide incidence patterns of cardia and non-cardia gastric cancer separately. It has been reported that the highest estimated regional rates of gastric cancer occurred in Eastern/Southeastern Asia (2). The high incidence of gastric cancer in these areas may result from Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection and bad dietary habits, including excessive ingestion of smoked or salty foods. In addition, the national screening programs in Japan and Korea and the wider application of endoscopy also contribute to the high incidence of gastric cancer.