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Gastric Cancer

, Volume 22, Issue 1, pp 1–9 | Cite as

Consensus on the pathological definition and classification of poorly cohesive gastric carcinoma

  • C. Mariette
  • F. Carneiro
  • H. I. Grabsch
  • R. S. van der Post
  • W. Allum
  • Giovanni de ManzoniEmail author
  • European Chapter of International Gastric Cancer Association
Special Article
First Online:

Abstract

Background and aims

Clinicopathological characteristics of gastric cancer (GC) are changing, especially in the West with a decreasing incidence of distal, intestinal-type tumours and the corresponding increasing proportion of tumours with Laurén diffuse or WHO poorly cohesive (PC) including signet ring cell (SRC) histology. To accurately assess the behaviour and the prognosis of these GC subtypes, the standardization of pathological definitions is needed.

Methods

A multidisciplinary expert team belonging to the European Chapter of International Gastric Cancer Association (IGCA) identified 11 topics on pathological classifications used for PC and SRC GC. The topics were debated during a dedicated Workshop held in Verona in March 2017. Then, through a Delphi method, consensus statements for each topic were elaborated.

Results

A consensus was reached on the need to classify gastric carcinoma according to the most recent edition of the WHO classification which is currently WHO 2010. Moreover, to standardize the definition of SRC carcinomas, the proposal that only WHO PC carcinomas with more than 90% poorly cohesive cells having signet ring cell morphology have to be classified as SRC carcinomas was made. All other PC non-SRC types have to be further subdivided into PC carcinomas with SRC component (< 90% but > 10% SRCs) and PC carcinomas not otherwise specified (< 10% SRCs).

Conclusion

The reported statements clarify some debated topics on pathological classifications used for PC and SRC GC. As such, this consensus classification would allow the generation of evidence on biological and prognostic differences between these GC subtypes.

Keywords

Gastric cancer Poorly cohesive sub-type Signet ring cell histology 
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Notes

Acknowledgements

Baiocchi Gian Luca (University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy); Bencivenga Maria (University of Verona, Verona, Italy), Flejou Jean-Francois (Hôpitaux Universitaires Est Parisien, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Paris, France); Fumaglli Uberto (Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy); Hoelscher Arnulf (Agaplesion Markus Krankenhaus, Frankfurt, Germany); Iglesias Mar (Hospital Universitario del Mar, Barcelona, Spain); Marrelli Daniele (University of Siena, Siena, Italy); Moenig Stephan (Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève, Genève, Switzerland); Morgagni Paolo (G.B. Morgagni-L Pierantoni Hospital, Forlì, Italy); Pera Manuel (Hospital Universitario del Mar, Barcelona, Spain); Piessen Giullaume (University Hospital of Lille, Lille, France); Reim Daniel (Klinikum Rechts der Isar der Technischen Universität München, Munich, Germany); Renaud Florence (University Hospital of Lille, Lille, France); Roviello Franco (University of Siena, Siena, Italy); Saragoni Luca (G.B. Morgagni-L. Pierantoni Hospital, Forlì, Italy); Scarpa Aldo (University of Verona, Verona, Italy); Schneider Paul (Hirslanden Hospital Zurich, Switzerland); Tomezzoli Anna (Verona University Hospital, Verona, Italy); Vieth Michael (Klinikum Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany); Wotherspoon Andrew (The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London and Surrey, United Kingdom); Zamboni Giuseppe (Sacro Cuore-Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Italy).

Funding

None.

Compliance with ethical standards

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical standards

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors. There was no need to get informed consent.

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Copyright information

© The International Gastric Cancer Association and The Japanese Gastric Cancer Association 2018

Authors and Affiliations

  • C. Mariette
    • 1
  • F. Carneiro
    • 2
  • H. I. Grabsch
    • 3
    • 4
  • R. S. van der Post
    • 5
  • W. Allum
    • 6
  • Giovanni de Manzoni
    • 7
    Email author
  • European Chapter of International Gastric Cancer Association
  1. 1.Department of SurgeryHôpital Claude-HuriezLilleFrance
  2. 2.Departments of Pathology, Centro Hospitalar São João, Faculty of Medicine of Porto University and Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S)Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (Ipatimup)PortoPortugal
  3. 3.Department of Pathology, GROW School for Oncology and Developmental BiologyMaastricht University Medical CenterMaastrichtThe Netherlands
  4. 4.Pathology and Tumour Biology, Leeds Institute of Cancer and PathologyUniversity of LeedsLeedsUK
  5. 5.Department of PathologyRadboud university medical centerNijmegenThe Netherlands
  6. 6.Department of Upper Gastrointestinal SurgeryRoyal Marsden HospitalLondonUK
  7. 7.General and Upper GI Surgery Division, Department of SurgeryUniversity of VeronaVeronaItaly

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