Genomic study of gastric cancer involving a portuguese-chinese consortium

The Coimbra Genomics S.A., a company dedicated to the emergent field of genomics, jointly with IPATIMUP and the Chinese organization BGI are lauching a research project aiming to understand the genetic basis of gastric carcinoma.

The portuguese scientists will contribute with 50 gastric cancer cases (cancer and adjecent normal tissues), stratified at IPATIMUP for relevant molecular markers. The characteristics of the sample and the selection of cases at the molecular level render this study unique among large scale genomic studies. The expectation is that the study will allow to identify patients with gastric cancer that can benefit from new therapies directed to consistent molecular alterations, as already demonstrated for other cancer models.

The most relevant issue at stake, other that the case identification approach, is to address a cancer with very few therapeutic approaches available and very prevalent both in Portugal and in China.