Cell growth in the stomach is called stomach cancer or gastric cancer. The stomach is present just below the ribs, in the upper middle of the belly. It works to break food down and eat it. Gastric cancer can start in any part of the stomach, but it mostly originates in the main part, known as the “stomach body.” It remains a significant global health challenge. In 2024, several innovative treatments have emerged, offering new hope to patients and healthcare providers. We will discuss each innovation, so remain with us!

Before knowing the treatments, it is necessary to know about the symptoms and causes of gastric cancer!

Symptoms of Gastric Cancer

There are no notable signs of gastric cancer, but most people come through the following symptoms;

• Persistent indigestion and heartburn

• Bloating after meal

• Feeling full with small amounts of food

• Nausea

• Stomach pain

• Unintentional weight loss

• Difficulty swallowing

• Vomiting blood

• Black-colored stools (indicating blood)

• Swelling or fluid build-up in the abdomen

• Unexplained tiredness or weakness 

You must contact a professional healthcare provider if you feel any of these symptoms.

Causes of Gastric Cancer

Many people think the excessive use of fizzy drinks and fast food is the major gastric cancer cause. But it is related to some other causes as well;

• Consuming a diet high in salty and smoked foods.

• Eating foods lacking in fruits and vegetables.

• Increase in tobacco use. 

• A family history of stomach cancer

• Conditions such as chronic gastritis, pernicious anemia, and gastric polyps 

• Excess body weight

• Inherited mutations

Innovative Treatments for Gastric Cancer

As the world is becoming more technological, there are a lot of advances in the medical field. In this way, many innovations have also occurred in dealing with gastric cancer. Get ready to learn about these innovative treatments deeply;

Personalized Cancer Vaccines

One big new development is the use of personalized cancer vaccines. These vaccines provide cancer cells the immune system recognizes and prevents the body from attacking. A 59-year-old woman became the first person in Europe to receive such a vaccine for gastro-oesophageal cancer in Dundee, Scotland. 

The treatment by Moderna and MSD, like some COVID-19 vaccines, uses mRNA technology to tell the immune system to seek out cancer cells according to the tumor's unique biological makeup. In the future, this approach may produce more precise, less toxic cancer treatments.

Heated Chemotherapy Baths (HIPEC)

Another good alternative is Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC). This innovation delivers heated chemotherapy into the abdominal cavity through surgery. Heat helps the chemotherapy work better, allowing it to penetrate cancer cells more easily. A study found that HIPEC doubled the usual survival rate for people with stomach cancer.

Blood Tests for Early Detection

Gastric cancer is best treated when found early. The UK government is funding the development of a new blood test, Mionco, which can detect 12 of the most common types of cancer, including gastric cancer, in their early stages. 

This test analyzes genetic material known as microRNA, a less invasive and often more accurate diagnosis than traditional methods. It can be ready in as little as five to seven years, spurring an early cancer detection revolution. 

Targeted Therapy (Zolbetuximab)

It is a new targeted and approved therapy for stomach cancer. It binds to a specific protein, Claudin 18.2, on the surface of some gastric cancer cells and tags them for destruction by the immune system.

 In clinical trials, adding zolbetuximab to standard chemotherapy has been shown to reduce the risk of disease progression and death by 57%. 

Note: In October 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved zolbetuximab for patients with advanced gastric cancer. 

Immunotherapy Advances

Signs of success have mounted in using immunotherapy in gastric cancer treatment. An immune checkpoint inhibitor, tislelizumab, has also been effective in treating advanced gastric cancer. 

It has expanded its use to become part of a first-line combination treatment, and for adults with advanced gastric or oesophageal cancer, the European Commission used it for the first time in November 2024. As a result, this therapy ‘turns off’ the PD-1 protein in the immune cells, which improves the body's ability to attack cancer cells.

Treatment Planning with AI

Cancer treatment has become an increasingly important field for artificial intelligence. In advanced oesophagogastric adenocarcinoma, researchers have created AI-based digital scores that show which patients will benefit from maintenance immunotherapy by analyzing the tumor immune microenvironment. It can improve outcomes and minimize the use of unnecessary side effects. 

New Chemotherapy Approaches

Chemotherapy delivery is also innovating. Using a magnetically guided origami robot, researchers have developed a robotic device to precisely deliver phototherapy to the stomach linings in patients with Helicobacter pylori, a bacteria known to raise the risk of gastric cancer. This method allows targeted treatment, reduces damage to healthy tissues, and prevents side effects. 

Combination Therapies

Increasingly, combining different treatment modalities is a common strategy to increase effectiveness. For example, Elevation Oncology has announced that EO-3021, their drug for gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer patients, will also combine with other treatment options. 

One goal is to create combination strategies that simultaneously target cancer cells using different combinations of pathways to get better patient outcomes. 

The Financial Challenge for Treatments

These innovative treatments offer hope, but they come with big price tags. Rising prices of new cancer drugs are constraining health budgets globally. Consider immunotherapies, which can cost upwards of $200,000 per year. 

This financial burden raises questions about the sustainability of healthcare systems and the accessibility of treatments to patients regardless of socioeconomic status. 

Final Thoughts!

No doubt, 2024 has seen big improvements in treating gastric cancer. New treatments are changing how we care for patients. But there are still challenges, especially when making these treatments affordable and available to every patient. 

Funding, ongoing research, and supportive policies are key to making sure that these treatments help all patients who need them. By focusing on these areas, we can ensure that all patients can benefit from these new treatments, no matter their situation