Pathogenesis of Gastric Carcinoma: The Role of the Microenvironment *

Several recent reviews of the epidemiology of gastric cancer are available [3, 4]. One of the salient features brought out is the prolonged latency period of the disease which in most cases is in excess of 30 years. During the prolonged latency period, drastic changes take place in the gastric microenvironment. The purpose of this article is to review briefly our present knowledge concerning the altered microenvironment.