Use of Blood Biomarkers to Predict Gastric Cancer Risk

This study aims to develop a cost-effective screening strategy for the Singapore population by targeted screening of people who have a high risk of stomach cancer, in order to detect early signs of the disease at a stage that can be prevented or cured. Often, patients only consult their doctors when they have advanced symptoms, by which time the cancer may be at a difficult to treat, or incurable stage. Using costs in the Singapore health system as well as local population risk profiles and demographics, our previous study demonstrated that screening of high-risk groups is cost-effective and a panel of serum makers was effective in differentiating high-risk from low-risk individuals. This study aims to validate the predictive value of various blood biomarkers, such as that of antibodies against Helicobacter pylori, pepsinogen levels, micro RNAs (miRNAs) and blood-based protein markers in participants who have been scheduled to undergo upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy for clinical reasons. If successful, the marker can be used to stratify population into different risk groups and various screening systems can be provided according to different risk level. This will reduce the number of annual invasive screening examinations required to detect early gastric cancer (GC), thereby rendering it cost-effective to generalize as clinical practice in Singapore.

Sex

All

Minimum age

40 Years

Inclusion Criteria:

1. The subject is greater than 40 years of age.
2. The subject is scheduled to undergo an endoscopy because of medical indication.
3. The subject must have personally signed and dated the patient informed consent form indicating that he/she has been informed of all pertinent aspects of the study.
4. The subject must be willing and able to comply with all study procedures.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. The subject who is unable to undergo gastroscopy.
2. The subject with previous total or partial gastrectomy.
3. The subject has other severe acute or chronic medical or psychiatric condition or laboratory abnormality that may interfere with the interpretation of study results and in the judgment of the investigator would make the subject unsuitable for entry into the study.
4. The subject is unwilling or unable to provide signed informed consent.
5. The subject who is pregnant.

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