[Chronological trend in clinicopathological characteristics of gastric cancer].

In Japan, age-adjusted mortality rate of gastric cancer has decreased from 72.7 to 18.1 between 1960 and 2010 and the age-adjusted incidence rate of gastric cancer has decreased from 84.0 to 51.3 between 1975 and 2007. The National Cancer Center data of 20,250 resected gastric cancers shows the average age increased from 56 y/o to 64 y/o and the rate of endoscopic resection increased 0% to 44% between 1960's and 2000's. Histologically, intestinal type gastric cancer increased 41% to 68% and early gastric cancer also increased 22% to 75% at the same time. These changes can be contributed to a well-organized mass-screening system for gastric cancer and also advanced treatment techniques of endoscopy. When the next generation becomes of age for cancer age, in the following 20 to 30 years, clinicopathological characteristics of gastric cancer may change and it will become a relatively rare disease.