Types of Stomach Cancer

The great majority of stomach cancers are a type called adenocarcinomas. These develop from the cells that form the innermost layer of the stomach, called the mucosa, in cells, called epithelial cells. These are other less common tumors found in the stomach.

• Lymphomas are cancers of immune system tissue.

• Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) can be benign or cancerous. They form from a layer of the stomach, called interstitial cells of Cajal.

• Carcinoid tumors come from hormone-producing cells in the stomach.

These 3 types of cancer are very rare and their treatment and prognosis differ from adenocarcinomas. Therefore, these rare tumors are not covered in this section.