Studies undertaken by City of Hope researchers have uncovered some surprising facts about stomach cancer ... and raised some new questions.

A skilled surgeon as well as an innovative researcher, Joseph Kim, M.D., is a living example of City of Hope's blend of science and patient care.  "Dr. Kim is a really good doctor," says Albert Sysavath.

In the largest study ever of racial disparities in stomach cancer, the research team analyzed more than 13,000 cases in Los Angeles County over the last 20 years.

Stomach cancer is one of the most serious forms of cancer.  Our researchers found that while people of Asian descent are more likely to develop stomach cancer, they are also far more likely to survive it than are Latinos, whites or African-Americans.

"No matter the extent of disease or treatment, Asians did best," said Joseph Kim, M.D., assistant professor in our department of surgery and senior author of the study.

What's not clear, however, is why patients of Asian descent should survive nearly twice as long as Latinos, the next closest group in five-year survival rates.

"We suspect there may be differences in tumor biology," Dr. Kim said.  Getting to the bottom of that mystery could benefit all stomach cancer patients, regardless of their family background.