Surprise origin of stomach cancer

BBC NEWS | Health | Surprise origin of stomach cancer

Stomach cancer may not originate from the tissue of the organ itself, but from bone marrow cells, researchers have found.

The cells appear to migrate to the stomach to try to repair damage caused by a bacterial infection.

The finding challenges many of the previous assumptions about how cancers originate, and could lead to new treatments, the scientists say.

This was an unexpected finding, which may lead to a re-evaluation of current assumptions about how all cancers originate. -- Professor Timothy Wang

Stomach cancer has long been associated with infection by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, which is also known to cause ulcers.

It was thought that the bacteria irritated the lining of the stomach wall, causing tissue damage, inflammation and stimulating the cells to become cancerous.