NCI review on current state of stomach cancer incidence, prevention, screening, awareness, and future public health importance

(a) Review The Director of the National Cancer Institute shall conduct a review of— (1) the current incidence of stomach cancer in the United States; (2) the risk factors for stomach cancer, including the incidence of such risk factors among high-risk populations and the general public; (3) the optimal age range to test for and treat Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, as a risk factor, for the purpose of primary prevention in high-risk populations and the general population; (4) the availability and frequency of screening for stomach cancer, including utilization and effectiveness, among high-risk populations; (5) the availability and effectiveness of endoscopic screenings in high-risk populations; (6) the availability and effectiveness of endoscopic resection and surveillance endoscopy for patients with confirmed gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) with high-grade dysplasia and early gastric cancer; (7) the benefits of surveillance endoscopy for patients at elevated risk, including patients with gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) who are at increased risk of gastric cancer due to ethnic background, family history, or other risk stratification parameters such as smoking and H. pylori infection; (8) current awareness and education about stomach cancer risk factors, prevention, symptoms, screening, and treatment options among high-risk populations and the general public; and (9) current Federal efforts to increase awareness and education of stomach cancer among high-risk populations and the general public. (b) Report Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Cancer Institute shall— (1) submit to the Congress a report on the results of the review under subsection (a); and (2) include in such report recommendations for— (A) establishing a clear definition of high-risk populations in the United States; (B) informing researchers, clinicians, physicians, patients, and other relevant stakeholders on— (i) identifying high-risk individuals; and (ii) effective methods for detecting precancerous lesions and early gastric cancer; (C) establishing routine screening guidelines for stomach cancer; and (D) actions to improve research on, prevention and early diagnosis of, and screening and treatment for stomach cancer.