**Molecular Prognostic Factors in Gastric Cancer**

Daniela Lazar, Sorina Taban, Marioara Cornianu, Alexandra Faur, Ioan Romosan and Adrian Goldis

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.69737

### **Abstract**

Gastric cancer represents a major health problem worldwide. Literature data have demonstrated that gastric tumors present a high molecular heterogeneity, responsible for the process of carcinogenesis and dissemination. By revealing the molecular subtype of the tumor, it is possible to assess its behavior, the outcome of the patient, and the treatment approach, according to its genetic and epigenetic profile. This chapter aims to highlight some of the many different genetic mutations, epigenetic alterations, as well as aberrant signaling pathways involved in the pathogenesis of stomach cancers, each of these molecular abnormalities acting in a specific stage of the disease. Moreover, the manuscript describes the novel therapeutic agents that target some of these aberrant molecular signaling pathways. Unfortunately, only a few agents are currently part of the standard treatment of gastric cancer, while most of the others remain to prove their therapeutic efficacy in the setting of clinical trials. By discovering the different molecular subtypes of gastric cancer, as well as numerous classes of targeted molecular agents, in the future, we would be able to perform an individualized treatment, associated with maximum efficiency and less costs.

**Keywords:** gastric cancer, molecular classification, gene expressions-based prognostic scoring system, molecular biomarkers, molecular targeted treatment
