Wai K. LeungMing shiang WuYasuo KakugawaJae J. KimKhay guan YeohKhean Lee GohKai chun WuDeng chyang WuJose SollanoUdom KachintornTakuji GotodaJaw town LinWei cheng YouEnders KW NgJoseph JY SungChinese University of Hong KongNational Taiwan UniversityNational Cancer Center HospitalSungKyunKwan University, School of MedicineNational University of SingaporeUniversity of MalayaThe Fourth Military Medical UniversityKaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial HospitalUniversity of Santo Tomas, ManilaMahidol UniversityPeking University2018-07-122018-07-122008-03-01The Lancet Oncology. Vol.9, No.3 (2008), 279-287147020452-s2.0-40749132569https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/19760Gastric cancer is the second most common cause of death from cancer in Asia. Although surgery is the standard treatment for this disease, early detection and treatment is the only way to reduce mortality. This Review summarises the epidemiology of gastric cancer, and the evidence for, and current practices of, screening in Asia. Few Asian countries have implemented a national screening programme for gastric cancer; most have adopted opportunistic screening of high-risk individuals only. Although screening by endoscopy seems to be the most accurate method for detection of gastric cancer, the availability of endoscopic instruments and expertise for mass screening remains questionable-even in developed countries such as Japan. Therefore, barium studies or serum-pepsinogen testing are sometimes used as the initial screening tool in some countries, and patients with abnormal results are screened by endoscopy. Despite the strong link between infection with Helicobacter pylori and gastric cancer, more data are needed to define the role of its eradication in the prevention of gastric cancer in Asia. At present, there is a paucity of quality data from Asia to lend support for screening for gastric cancer. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Mahidol UniversityMedicineReviewSCOPUS10.1016/S1470-2045(08)70072-X