Systematic review of current evidence on metabolites associated with gastric cancer

Scientists from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), in collaboration with Seoul National University (Republic of Korea), have conducted a systematic review evaluating circulating metabolites as potential biomarkers for gastric cancer and its precancerous lesions. The study was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

The comprehensive review included 52 studies published between 2004 and 2025 that assessed endogenous metabolites in relation to precancerous gastric lesions, gastric cancer, or gastric cancer subtypes. The evidence was synthesized according to study design, biospecimen type, analytical approaches, Helicobacter pylori infection, identified metabolites, and model performance.

Reported metabolic alterations were mainly related to glucose, lipid, amino acid, nucleic acid, and vitamin metabolism. Several studies developed metabolite-based models to distinguish gastric cancer from non-cancer conditions, with variable performance.

The findings provide important insights into gastric carcinogenesis. However, substantial heterogeneity across studies highlights the need for standardized methods, careful control of key confounders, and independent validation in large, diverse populations before clinical application.

Hoang T, Keski-Rahkonen P, Jenab M, Knaze V, Shin A, Park JY
Systematic review of current evidence on metabolites associated with gastric cancer
J Natl Cancer Inst. Published online 18 February 2026;
https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/djag053

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