Tumor-Associated Neutrophils (TANs) in Gastric Carcinomas: Clinicopathological and Prognostic Implications

Gastric cancer, the fifth most common cancer worldwide, and the third leading cause of cancer-specific mortality, has very poor prognosis, with a 5-year survival less than 30% [1-2]. The TNM staging remains the cornerstone in clinical oncology to stratify prognosis and establish therapy for patients with neoplasm [3]. Gastric carcinoma is a heterogeneous neoplasm with respect to anatomic location, epidemiology, genetics, histopathology, and biologic behavior, and, consequently, it has been subjected to many different classifications. With respect to anatomic location, gastric carcinomas may be distinguished as proximal (also known as cardia) and distal (also known as noncardia). This classification correlates with distinct epidemiological risk factors.