Overview
Undifferentiated carcinoma of the stomach is a rare and aggressive type of stomach cancer. Unlike more common stomach cancers, the cancer cells in this type look so abnormal under a microscope that doctors cannot tell what kind of cell they originally came from — this is what 'undifferentiated' means. It is sometimes called undifferentiated gastric carcinoma or poorly differentiated stomach cancer. Because the cells grow and spread quickly, this cancer tends to be more aggressive than other stomach cancers. This cancer can develop in any part of the stomach, including the upper portion near the food pipe (cardia), the main body of the stomach, or the lower portion near the small intestine. As the tumor grows, it can invade nearby tissues and spread to lymph nodes, the liver, lungs, and other organs. This spread is called metastasis and makes the cancer harder to treat. Common symptoms include persistent stomach pain, unintended weight loss, difficulty swallowing, nausea, vomiting, and feeling full after eating only a small amount. Many people do not notice symptoms until the cancer is at an advanced stage, which is one reason this disease is so challenging. Treatment usually involves surgery, chemotherapy, and sometimes radiation therapy or targeted drug treatments, depending on how far the cancer has spread.
Also known as:
Key symptoms:
Persistent or worsening stomach pain or discomfortUnintended weight lossFeeling full very quickly after eating small amountsNausea and vomitingDifficulty swallowingLoss of appetiteBloating after mealsBlood in vomit or black, tarry stoolsFatigue and weaknessHeartburn or indigestion that does not go awaySwelling in the abdomen
Sporadic
Usually appears on its own, not inherited from a parent
Adult
Begins in adulthood (age 18 or older)
FDA & Trial Timeline
1 eventNational Cancer Center, Korea — NA
Data sourced from FDA regulatory filings and ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated periodically.
Treatments
No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for Undifferentiated carcinoma of stomach.
1 clinical trialare actively recruiting — trials can provide access to cutting-edge therapies.
View clinical trials →Rare Disease Specialist
Treatment Centers
8 centersBaylor College of Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🏥 NORDStanford Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Stanford Medicine
📍 Stanford, CA
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
🔬 UDNUCLA UDN Clinical Site ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🔬 UDNBaylor College of Medicine UDN Clinical Site ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine ↗
Mayo Clinic
📍 Rochester, MN
👤 Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Travel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Undifferentiated carcinoma of stomach.
Community
No community posts yet. Be the first to share your experience with Undifferentiated carcinoma of stomach.
Start the conversation →Latest news about Undifferentiated carcinoma of stomach
Disease timeline:
New recruiting trial: Comparison of Endoscopic Resection and Surgery for Early Gastric Cancer With Undifferentiated Histological Type
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Undifferentiated carcinoma of stomach
Caregiver Resources
NORD Caregiver Resources
Support, advocacy, and financial assistance for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Mental Health Support
Rare disease caregiving can be isolating. Connect with counseling and peer support.
Family & Caregiver Grants
Financial assistance programs specifically for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.What stage is my cancer and what does that mean for my treatment options?,Has my tumor been tested for HER2, PD-L1, and mismatch repair status, and how do those results affect my treatment?,Should I be tested for a hereditary cancer syndrome like CDH1 mutation or Lynch syndrome?,What clinical trials might be available for my type and stage of stomach cancer?,What are the goals of my treatment — is it aimed at curing the cancer or controlling it?,What nutritional support will I need, especially if surgery is recommended?,What palliative care or support services are available to help manage symptoms and quality of life?
Common questions about Undifferentiated carcinoma of stomach
What is Undifferentiated carcinoma of stomach?
Undifferentiated carcinoma of the stomach is a rare and aggressive type of stomach cancer. Unlike more common stomach cancers, the cancer cells in this type look so abnormal under a microscope that doctors cannot tell what kind of cell they originally came from — this is what 'undifferentiated' means. It is sometimes called undifferentiated gastric carcinoma or poorly differentiated stomach cancer. Because the cells grow and spread quickly, this cancer tends to be more aggressive than other stomach cancers. This cancer can develop in any part of the stomach, including the upper portion near t
How is Undifferentiated carcinoma of stomach inherited?
Undifferentiated carcinoma of stomach follows a sporadic inheritance pattern. Genetic counseling can help families understand recurrence risk and testing options.
At what age does Undifferentiated carcinoma of stomach typically begin?
Typical onset of Undifferentiated carcinoma of stomach is adult. Age of onset can vary across affected individuals.
Are there clinical trials for Undifferentiated carcinoma of stomach?
Yes — 1 recruiting clinical trial is currently listed for Undifferentiated carcinoma of stomach on UniteRare. See the clinical trials section on this page for phase, sponsor, and site details sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov.
Which specialists treat Undifferentiated carcinoma of stomach?
10 specialists and care centers treating Undifferentiated carcinoma of stomach are listed on UniteRare, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal investigators, published research, and the NPPES NPI registry.