Author Interviews, Cancer Research, Gastrointestinal Disease / 07.05.2025
DDW25: Cleveland Clinic Reports Progress Made in Early Diagnosis of Gastric Cancer
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
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Dr. Siddiqui[/caption]
Mohamed Tausif Siddiqui, MD
The study’s lead author and a Gastroenterology fellow
Cleveland Clinic.
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Our study looked at how the stage of gastric cancer diagnosis has changed over the past two decades in the U.S., using national SEER data. Gastric cancer has long been a challenge because it’s often diagnosed late, when treatment options are limited and survival rates are poor.
But with advancements in endoscopic technology—like high-definition imaging, narrow-band imaging, and endoscopic ultrasound—we wanted to see if these tools were making a difference in catching cancers earlier.
Dr. Siddiqui[/caption]
Mohamed Tausif Siddiqui, MD
The study’s lead author and a Gastroenterology fellow
Cleveland Clinic.
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Our study looked at how the stage of gastric cancer diagnosis has changed over the past two decades in the U.S., using national SEER data. Gastric cancer has long been a challenge because it’s often diagnosed late, when treatment options are limited and survival rates are poor.
But with advancements in endoscopic technology—like high-definition imaging, narrow-band imaging, and endoscopic ultrasound—we wanted to see if these tools were making a difference in catching cancers earlier.
Dr. Hazen[/caption]
Stanley Hazen, MD, PhD
Chair, Cardiovascular & Metabolic Sciences
Lerner Research Institute
CoSection head, Preventive Cardiology & Cardiovascular Rehabilitation
Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute
Cleveland Clinic
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: One of the unique features of COVID is that in some subjects, there unfortunately appear to be long term adverse effects that can occur following resolution of the acute infection. These studies add to the growing body of data showing that COVID-19 infection can enhance risk for experiencing adverse cardiac events (heart attack, stroke, and death) over time.
Dr. Kamath[/caption]
Dr. Suneel Kamath MD
Gastrointestinal Oncologist
Cleveland Clinic
Senior Author on this research
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Colorectal cancer rates in young people under age 50 are skyrocketing and have been for the last 3-4 decades. We really don’t understand why because most cases (probably around 70%) are not genetic or hereditary, just random, unfortunate events. We suspect that it is some exposure(s) like excess consumption of red meat, processed foods, sugar-sweetened beverages, excess antibiotic use altering the microbiome, rising incidence of obesity or some other factors. We really don’t know why yet.
Our study used a technology called metabolomics, the study of breakdown products and production building blocks for our bodies, to look for differences in colorectal cancer in young people versus people that are older that developed colorectal cancer. Because metabolomics measures how each individual interacts with the exposures in our environment like diet, air quality, etc., it is a way to bridge the gap between our nature (determined by genetics) and nurture (determined by our exposures).
Dr. Phelan[/caption]
Dermot Phelan, MD, PhD
Director of the Sports Cardiology Center
Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: It is well recognized that long-term elite endurance athletes are at higher risk of atrial fibrillation. We wished to evaluate whether this held true for primarily strength-type athletes. We had the opportunity to screen almost 500 former NFL athletes. It became clear that we were seeing more atrial fibrillation than one would expect during the screenings.
