World J Oncol

World Journal of Oncology, ISSN 1920-4531 print, 1920-454X online, Open Access

Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, World J Oncol and Elmer Press Inc

Journal website https://wjon.elmerpub.com

Original Article

Volume 17, Number 1, February 2026, pages 25-33

Proportional Frequency and Clinical Characteristics of Gastric, Esophageal, and Gastroesophageal Junction Cancers in a Private Medical Group in Brazil

Figure 1. Flowchart of data extraction and filtering. EC: esophageal cancer; GC: gastric cancer; GEJC: gastroesophageal junction cancer; IHC: immunohistochemistry; NET: neuroendocrine tumor.

**Table 1.** Characteristics of the Study Population
Characteristic	GC (n = 116)	EC (n = 37)	GEJC (n = 22)	≥ 2 locations (n = 6)	P value
^aFor continuous variables, P values were obtained using the Kruskal-Wallis test. ^bFor categorical variables, P values were obtained using the Chi-square test. EC: esophageal cancer; GC: gastric cancer; GEJC: gastroesophageal junction cancer; HER2: human epidermal growth factor receptor 2; IQR: interquartile range; MMR: mismatch repair; MSI: microsatellite instability.
Age at diagnosis, years, median (IQR)	72 (60 - 79)	65 (59 - 74)	65 (59 - 76)	64 (62 - 65)	0.200^a
Age category at diagnosis, n (%)					0.120^a
< 40 years	8 (6.9)	0 (0)	1 (4.5)	0 (0)
40 - 49 years	4 (3.4)	5 (13.5)	2 (9.1)	1 (16.7)
50 - 59 years	16 (13.8)	5 (13.5)	3 (13.6)	0 (0)
60 - 69 years	27 (23.3)	10 (27.0)	7 (31.8)	4 (66.7)
70 - 79 years	34 (29.3)	15 (40.5)	6 (27.3)	1 (16.7)
≥ 80 years	27 (23.3)	2 (5.4)	3 (13.6)	0 (0)
Sex, n (%)					0.057^b
Male	62 (53.4)	27 (73.0)	17 (77.3)	4 (66.7)
Female	54 (46.6)	10 (27.0)	5 (22.7)	2 (33.3)
Geographic region (state), n (%)					0.600^b
Sao Paulo	108 (93.1)	36 (97.3)	21 (95.5)	5 (83.3)
Rio de Janeiro	2 (1.7)	1 (2.7)	1 (4.5)	0 (0)
Goias	1 (0.9)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)
Distrito Federal	5 (4.3)	0 (0)	0 (0)	1 (16.7)
Helicobacter pylori status, n (%)					0.059^b
Positive	13 (11.2)	3 (8.1)	3 (13.6)	0 (0)
Negative	39 (33.6)	5 (13.5)	2 (9.1)	1 (16.7)
Not performed	64 (55.2)	29 (78.4)	17 (77.3)	5 (83.3)
Biomarker (HER2, MMR/MSI) evaluation performed, n (%)	28 (24.1)	3 (8.1)	2 (9.1)	0 (0)	0.065^b

Table 1. Characteristics of the Study Population

Characteristic

GC (n = 116)

EC (n = 37)

GEJC (n = 22)

≥ 2 locations (n = 6)

P value

^aFor continuous variables, P values were obtained using the Kruskal-Wallis test. ^bFor categorical variables, P values were obtained using the Chi-square test. EC: esophageal cancer; GC: gastric cancer; GEJC: gastroesophageal junction cancer; HER2: human epidermal growth factor receptor 2; IQR: interquartile range; MMR: mismatch repair; MSI: microsatellite instability.

Age at diagnosis, years, median (IQR)

72 (60 - 79)

65 (59 - 74)

65 (59 - 76)

64 (62 - 65)

0.200^a

Age category at diagnosis, n (%)

0.120^a

< 40 years

8 (6.9)

0 (0)

1 (4.5)

0 (0)

40 - 49 years

4 (3.4)

5 (13.5)

2 (9.1)

1 (16.7)

50 - 59 years

16 (13.8)

5 (13.5)

3 (13.6)

0 (0)

60 - 69 years

27 (23.3)

10 (27.0)

7 (31.8)

4 (66.7)

70 - 79 years

34 (29.3)

15 (40.5)

6 (27.3)

1 (16.7)

≥ 80 years

27 (23.3)

2 (5.4)

3 (13.6)

0 (0)

Sex, n (%)

0.057^b

Male

62 (53.4)

27 (73.0)

17 (77.3)

4 (66.7)

Female

54 (46.6)

10 (27.0)

5 (22.7)

2 (33.3)

Geographic region (state), n (%)

0.600^b

Sao Paulo

108 (93.1)

36 (97.3)

21 (95.5)

5 (83.3)

Rio de Janeiro

2 (1.7)

1 (2.7)

1 (4.5)

0 (0)

Goias

1 (0.9)

0 (0)

Distrito Federal

5 (4.3)

0 (0)

1 (16.7)

Helicobacter pylori status, n (%)

0.059^b

Positive

13 (11.2)

3 (8.1)

3 (13.6)

0 (0)

Negative

39 (33.6)

5 (13.5)

2 (9.1)

1 (16.7)

Not performed

64 (55.2)

29 (78.4)

17 (77.3)

5 (83.3)

Biomarker (HER2, MMR/MSI) evaluation performed, n (%)

28 (24.1)

3 (8.1)

2 (9.1)

0 (0)

0.065^b

**Table 2.** Distribution of GC and GEJC by Lauren Classification
Lauren classification, n (%)	GC (n = 116)	GEJC (n = 22)	≥ 2 locations (n = 6)
^aIntestinal type included NOS adenocarcinoma, tubular adenocarcinoma, and mucinous adenocarcinoma with intestinal phenotype. ^bDiffuse type included only poorly cohesive carcinoma. GC: gastric cancer; GEJC: gastroesophageal junction cancer; NOS: not otherwise specified.
Intestinal type^a	68 (58.6)	18 (81.8)	4 (66.7)
Diffuse type^b	34 (29.3)	2 (9.1)	1 (16.7)
Mixed type	14 (12.1)	2 (9.1)	1 (16.7)

Table 2. Distribution of GC and GEJC by Lauren Classification

Lauren classification, n (%)

GC (n = 116)

GEJC (n = 22)

≥ 2 locations (n = 6)

^aIntestinal type included NOS adenocarcinoma, tubular adenocarcinoma, and mucinous adenocarcinoma with intestinal phenotype. ^bDiffuse type included only poorly cohesive carcinoma. GC: gastric cancer; GEJC: gastroesophageal junction cancer; NOS: not otherwise specified.

Intestinal type^a

68 (58.6)

18 (81.8)

4 (66.7)

Diffuse type^b

34 (29.3)

2 (9.1)

1 (16.7)

Mixed type

14 (12.1)

2 (9.1)

1 (16.7)

**Table 3.** Distribution of EC by Tumor Histologic Type
Histologic type, n (%)	EC (n = 37)
EC: esophageal cancer.
Adenocarcinoma	21 (56.8)
Squamous cell carcinoma	15 (40.5)
Small cell carcinoma	1 (2.7)

Table 3. Distribution of EC by Tumor Histologic Type

Histologic type, n (%)

EC (n = 37)

EC: esophageal cancer.

Adenocarcinoma

21 (56.8)

Squamous cell carcinoma

15 (40.5)

Small cell carcinoma

1 (2.7)

**Table 4.** IHC Biomarkers in the Study Population
Diagnosis	Total patients, n	HER2	MMR
^aAmong patients tested. ^bFor one case, a fluorescence in situ hybridization test was not performed at the institution, so the results were considered uncertain. ^cFor one case, a retest for an equivocal result was not performed at the institution, so the results were considered uncertain. EC: esophageal cancer; GC: gastric cancer; GEJC: gastroesophageal junction cancer; HER2: human epidermal growth factor receptor 2; IHC: immunohistochemistry; MMR: mismatch repair.
GC	116	28^b (24.1)	2 (7.1)	28^c (24.1)	2 (7.1)
EC	37	3 (8.1)	1 (33.3)	3 (8.1)	0 (0)
GEJC	22	2 (9.1)	1 (50.0)	2 (9.1)	0 (0)

Table 4. IHC Biomarkers in the Study Population

Diagnosis

Total patients, n

HER2

MMR

Patients tested, n (%)

HER2-positive^a, n (%)

Patients tested, n (%)

MMR deficient^a, n (%)

^aAmong patients tested. ^bFor one case, a fluorescence in situ hybridization test was not performed at the institution, so the results were considered uncertain. ^cFor one case, a retest for an equivocal result was not performed at the institution, so the results were considered uncertain. EC: esophageal cancer; GC: gastric cancer; GEJC: gastroesophageal junction cancer; HER2: human epidermal growth factor receptor 2; IHC: immunohistochemistry; MMR: mismatch repair.

116

28^b (24.1)

2 (7.1)

28^c (24.1)

2 (7.1)

3 (8.1)

1 (33.3)

3 (8.1)

0 (0)

GEJC

2 (9.1)

1 (50.0)

2 (9.1)

0 (0)