Lay summary
Associate Professor Sharon Pattison is an Upper Gastrointestinal Medical Oncologist Clinician Scientist with a particular interest in gastric cancer. Gastric cancer is known to have a number of subtypes that occur with different frequencies globally. Differing outcomes of clinical trials from Asia, North America and Europe point to this varied biology influencing response to therapies, and survival. In Aotearoa New Zealand Māori and Pacific populations have higher incidence rates of, and death rates from gastric cancer than other ethnicities. We currently have limited understanding of the molecular subtypes of gastric cancer that occur in Aotearoa New Zealand. This study seeks to understand the molecular biology of gastric cancers that occur in Aotearoa New Zealand. This information will help optimise treatment decision making for gastric cancer patients and facilitate research into gastric cancer treatments in the New Zealand context.