Advancing early detection of gastric cancer through serum cytokine profiling

Gastric carcinoma (GC) is one of the most common and deadly cancers worldwide, ranking fifth in incidence and third in cancer-related mortality. Despite significant advancements in surgical techniques and chemotherapy, the overall prognosis for GC remains poor, primarily due to late-stage diagnosis. Current diagnostic tools, such as endoscopy and biopsy, are invasive and are often utilized only after symptoms arise, leading to missed opportunities for early intervention. Traditional serum tumour markers, such as carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19-9, demonstrate limited sensitivity and specificity, particularly in the disease's early stages. GC often diagnosed at advanced stages due to a lack of early, specific biomarkers. Chronic inflammation plays a significant role in gastric carcinogenesis, particularly in cases of Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis. Pro-inflammatory cytokines have gained attention as potential non-invasive serum biomarkers for early diagnosis and disease monitoring. In recent years, numerous studies have explored the potential of serum cytokines-such as interleukin (IL)-6, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, IL-8 and interferon-gamma-as biomarkers for detecting gastric cancer. Future research integrating cytokine profiling with imaging, endoscopic, or genomic data may revolutionize how we screen and manage GC.