Stomach cancer in young patients in South Korea has been on the rise recently.<br />However, hope for better treatment could be on the horizon as local researchers say they've identified the genes behind the disease.<br />Park Se-young has more.<br /> <br />Stomach cancer is the most common type of cancer in Korea, and about 15 percent of stomach cancer cases affect people under 40.<br />Gastric cancer has a high mortality rate because it rarely has early symptoms and it spreads rapidly.<br /><br />"Gastric cancer is usually found in elderly people. Gastric cancer at a young age tends to spread quickly and is often diagnosed too late."<br /><br />Based on the analysis of genes and proteins from cancer in 80 patients with early-onset gastric cancer, …Korean researchers have discovered three gene mutations associated with the disease.<br />They were also able to identify four subtypes of gastric cancer, …which could lead to personalized treatment.<br /><br />"The subtypes were found by analyzing genes and proteins. Since each subtype comes with different cellular signaling, we can use that to develop medicines."<br /><br />The findings are expected to pave the way for more accurate diagnosis and treatment of the disease.<br />Park Se-young, Arirang News. <br />
