Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer (HDGC) Clinical Trials

Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) is an autosomal dominant cancer predisposition syndrome caused by germline mutations in the CDH1 gene (chromosome 16q22.1) encoding E-cadherin, a calcium-dependent cell adhesion protein essential for cell-cell contact. E-cadherin deficiency impairs cell-cell adhesion, leading to proliferation of individual cancer cells without forming obvious masses, creating the diffuse-type gastric cancer difficult to detect with conventional endoscopy. Most CDH1 mutation carriers develop gastric cancer by age 70-80 if untreated, with cumulative penetrance of approximately 70-80%.

The most common symptoms of Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer include Diffuse-type gastric adenocarcinoma, No early warning signs in early disease, Dyspepsia and upper abdominal discomfort in advanced cases, Weight loss and anemia, Associated lobular breast cancer in some families, among others. Estimated at 1 in 1,000 gastric cancer cases; ~1 in 100,000 in general population. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and may vary between individuals.

Trial Friend lists all active clinical trials for Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer from ClinicalTrials.gov, with eligibility criteria translated into plain English. Patients can filter by trial phase and recruitment status, search by location, and use the Match Me tool to score trials against their profile. Genetic testing identifying CDH1 mutations enables risk-stratified surveillance or prophylactic total gastrectomy before cancer development. Prophylactic gastrectomy performed in younger mutation carriers (typically age 20-40) has excellent cancer prevention outcomes with >95% cancer prevention rates.

As of September 2026, Trial Friend's curated drug index does not include an FDA-approved treatment specific to Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer. The Treatments section of this page checks FDA drug labels live and lists any approved drug whose label names the condition, and the trials listed below cover the investigational options.

Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer is caused by variants in the CDH1 and CTNNA1 genes. Germline CDH1 is found in a minority of families meeting HDGC criteria; carriers also face a 40 to 50% lobular breast cancer risk.

It is autosomal dominant, so each child of an affected parent has a 1 in 2 chance of inheriting it. Estimated at 1 in 1,000 gastric cancer cases; ~1 in 100,000 in general population. Genetic testing confirms the diagnosis.

Yes. Genetic testing for Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer looks at the CDH1 and CTNNA1 genes. Germline CDH1 is found in a minority of families meeting HDGC criteria; carriers also face a 40 to 50% lobular breast cancer risk.

It is autosomal dominant, so each child of an affected parent has a 1 in 2 chance of inheriting it.

A confirmed variant establishes the diagnosis and is often required to enroll in gene-specific trials. The labs currently offering the test are listed in the Genetic Testing section of this page, pulled live from the NIH Genetic Testing Registry. A genetic counselor can help interpret the result and decide which relatives should be tested.

Eligibility for Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer clinical trials depends on factors like age, diagnosis, treatment history, and overall health. Each trial sets its own inclusion and exclusion criteria. Trial Friend translates these requirements from medical language into plain English so patients can review them more easily. The Match Me tool can score your profile against active trials to help identify studies that may be a fit.

Participating in a Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer clinical trial typically involves scheduled visits, medical tests, and close monitoring by a research team. Depending on the study phase, you may receive an investigational treatment, a placebo, or the current standard of care. Trials may last from a few weeks to several years. Study participation is voluntary, and you can withdraw at any time.