Which gene is associated with gastric carcinomas?

• A. CDH1
• B. BRCA1
• C. TP53
• D. PTEN

Answer: (A)

CDH1 is the gene most directly linked to gastric carcinomas because it encodes E-cadherin, a protein essential for keeping gastric epithelial cells attached to one another. When CDH1 is mutated, cell–cell adhesion is weakened, promoting the diffuse, invasive growth pattern seen in certain gastric cancers. Inherited mutations in CDH1 cause hereditary diffuse gastric cancer, underscoring its strong association with this disease.

The other genes are linked to different cancer risk profiles: BRCA1 is primarily associated with breast and ovarian cancers; TP53, a common tumor suppressor, is involved in many cancers but is not specifically tied to gastric cancer; PTEN is linked to Cowden syndrome and various tumors but not specifically gastric carcinoma.