Which cancer type is associated with CDH1 gene?

• A. Gastric carcinomas
• B. Ovarian carcinomas
• C. Breast carcinomas
• D. Colon adenocarcinoma

Answer: (A)

CDH1 encodes E-cadherin, a protein essential for cells in epithelial tissues to stick together and maintain proper cell–cell adhesion. When CDH1 is mutated or lost, cells lose adhesion, become more prone to detaching and invading surrounding tissues. This disruption in adhesion is a hallmark of hereditary diffuse gastric cancer, making gastric carcinomas the cancer type most strongly associated with CDH1 mutations.

Ovarian and breast cancers involve other genetic drivers (for example, BRCA1/2) and are not the classic associations with CDH1, though there can be an increased risk for lobular breast cancer in some CDH1-related contexts. Colon adenocarcinoma is linked to different pathways and genes as well.