EPIDEMIOLOGY AND TREATMENT ALGORITHMS OF GASTRIC CANCER IN TURKIYE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Author(s)
Mehtap Tatar, PhD1, Roger Tschopp, MD, MSc2, Eugenia Priedane, MA3.
1Polar Sağlık Ekonomisi ve Politikası Dan. Tic. Ltd. Şti, Ankara, Turkey, 2BeOne Medicines I GmbH, Basel, Switzerland, 3BeOne Medicines Ltd, London, United Kingdom.
1Polar Sağlık Ekonomisi ve Politikası Dan. Tic. Ltd. Şti, Ankara, Turkey, 2BeOne Medicines I GmbH, Basel, Switzerland, 3BeOne Medicines Ltd, London, United Kingdom.
OBJECTIVES: Türkiye has a high incidence and mortality rate for gastric cancer (GC), with marked regional variations. GC is more common in eastern Türkiye, paralleling geographic patterns observed in esophageal cancer. Dietary habits (eg, tandoor cooking, hot foods) and environmental exposures (eg, radiation or arsenic exposure) are associated with regional discrepancies. This systematic literature review aimed to summarize GC epidemiology and treatment patterns in Türkiye and to provide insights to inform future research and policy development.
METHODS: Following PRISMA 2020, English and Turkish language databases and websites were searched for publications from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2024. Eligible studies included adults in Türkiye and reported GC epidemiology or treatment. Duplicates, inaccessible records, pediatric studies, and non-English/Turkish publications were excluded.
RESULTS: Of 15,128 records identified, 2993 were screened after duplicate removal. In total, 2030 records were excluded at screening. Of 963 records retrieved, 52 were inaccessible, and 552 were excluded after full-text review. Backward/forward reference screening yielded six additional studies. Overall, 365 studies were included in the final analysis. Across the literature, GC in Türkiye is frequently diagnosed at advanced stages despite broad access to healthcare services. Consequently, there is a high reliance on palliative or noncurative therapies. Compared with global treatment patterns, surgical interventions appear to be used less frequently, while palliative/non-curative therapy is more common.
CONCLUSIONS: Updated epidemiological research is needed, as GC receives less attention than other high‑burden cancers despite its significant mortality impact. Regionalized strategies such as targeted screening programs and establishment of centers of excellence may address the higher burden in eastern Türkiye. Additionally, improving early diagnosis through public education on GC symptoms and timely help‑seeking, alongside enhanced clinician training in symptom recognition and referral, may increase eligibility for curative treatments and support integration of emerging therapies into GC care pathways.
METHODS: Following PRISMA 2020, English and Turkish language databases and websites were searched for publications from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2024. Eligible studies included adults in Türkiye and reported GC epidemiology or treatment. Duplicates, inaccessible records, pediatric studies, and non-English/Turkish publications were excluded.
RESULTS: Of 15,128 records identified, 2993 were screened after duplicate removal. In total, 2030 records were excluded at screening. Of 963 records retrieved, 52 were inaccessible, and 552 were excluded after full-text review. Backward/forward reference screening yielded six additional studies. Overall, 365 studies were included in the final analysis. Across the literature, GC in Türkiye is frequently diagnosed at advanced stages despite broad access to healthcare services. Consequently, there is a high reliance on palliative or noncurative therapies. Compared with global treatment patterns, surgical interventions appear to be used less frequently, while palliative/non-curative therapy is more common.
CONCLUSIONS: Updated epidemiological research is needed, as GC receives less attention than other high‑burden cancers despite its significant mortality impact. Regionalized strategies such as targeted screening programs and establishment of centers of excellence may address the higher burden in eastern Türkiye. Additionally, improving early diagnosis through public education on GC symptoms and timely help‑seeking, alongside enhanced clinician training in symptom recognition and referral, may increase eligibility for curative treatments and support integration of emerging therapies into GC care pathways.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
EPH135
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health, Health Policy & Regulatory, Health Service Delivery & Process of Care
Topic Subcategory
Public Health
Disease
Gastrointestinal Disorders, Oncology