Current status and advances in research on the impact and mechanisms of atmospheric pollutants on gastric cancer: a narrative review.

Background and Objective: Gastric cancer (GC) constitutes a significant global health issue, with its incidence and mortality rates ranking fifth worldwide. In recent years, atmospheric pollutants, as one of the environmental factors, have increasingly been recognized as critical risk factors in the development of GC. Epidemiological studies indicate that atmospheric pollutants such as particulate matter, gaseous pollutants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and persistent organic substances are associated with the onset and progression of GC. Currently, the pathogenic mechanisms by which atmospheric pollutants contribute to GC remain incompletely elucidated. These mechanisms may involve pathways such as inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, immunomodulation, metabolism, gut microbiota interactions, and genetic cross-talk, all of which promote the development and progression of GC. Additionally, this article summarizes the current limitations of research and outlines future research directions, aiming to provide a reference for future studies. Methods: This study conducted a literature review by searching the PubMed and Web of Science databases to identify the latest research findings regarding the mechanisms by which atmospheric pollutants promote the occurrence and development of GC. Based on these findings, a narrative review was generated. Key Content and Findings: This article introduces the classification of major atmospheric pollutants and epidemiological studies on their association with GC. It summarizes the mechanisms by which atmospheric pollutants promote the occurrence and development of GC. In addition, it also summarizes the limitations of current research and future research directions. These advances will help provide more theoretical basis for the role of atmospheric pollutants in promoting the development of GC. Conclusions: Atmospheric pollutants can promote the occurrence and development of GC through pathways such as inflammatory response, oxidative stress, immune regulation, metabolism, intestinal microecology, and genetic interaction. In the future, more extensive epidemiological studies and more in-depth mechanism research are needed to further explore the mechanisms by which atmospheric pollutants contribute to GC. Meanwhile, this will also be beneficial to the formulation of relevant public health policies.