Predictive Value of Air Pollution and Metabolomics for Gastric Cancer.

As one of the common malignant tumours worldwide, gastric cancer continues to have a high incidence and mortality rate, especially in Asia. Although a large number of studies have focused on its underlying genetic and lifestyle factors, the specific role of environmental factors in gastric cancer development and progression has not been fully elucidated. Air pollution, a growing environmental problem, and its major components such as PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 have been shown to be closely associated with the occurrence and development of many chronic diseases. Recent studies have gradually revealed the association between air pollution and certain cancer types (e.g., lung cancer), but its relationship with gastric cancer remains relatively unexplored. Against this background, the application of metabolomics provides new perspectives and methods to study the association between gastric cancer and environmental factors. Metabolomics is capable of systematically analysing the metabolite composition and changes in individuals under different environmental exposures, revealing the potential effects of environmental factors, such as air pollution, on individual metabolic functions. By combining air pollution data and metabolomics analysis, investigators can deeply explore the role of environmental factors in the occurrence, development and prognosis of gastric cancer, and thus provide a scientific basis for the development of prevention and treatment strategies.