Gastric cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide and is diagnosed in 27,000 Americans each year. In the United States, this burden falls disproportionately on ethnic minorities and immigrant communities, especially Asians. There exists no coherent national strategy for the early detection or risk attenuation of gastric cancer, even among identified high-risk groups. As a result, patients with gastric cancer in the US are diagnosed at later stages and demonstrate worse overall survival compared to nations of East Asia with established screening programs.

This multi-disciplinary Summit brought together physicians, researchers, policy makers, patients, and advocacy groups from around the United States and the world, to share experiences and discoveries, and with the common goal of creating a roadmap to address the healthcare disparity that exists in gastric cancer.