Importance of Early Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Tumors: A Brief Review
Author(s):
Emily Eduarda Hellmann1*, Ian Caldeira Ruppen1, Fernando de Oliveira Dutra2, André Cesar Leandro1, Larissa da Rosa Piccoli1, Tauane
Cano Barreto1, Ana Paula Mendes1, Priscila De Oliveira Barros1, Camilla Antunes Zanini3, Sarila Hali Kloster Lopes1, Lara Beatriz Dallaqua
Bitiati1, Bruno Tadim Carderelli4, Henrique Marques Dagostin5, Fernanda Romagnole Pugliese5, Ana Carolina Langendyk Rodrigues1
and
Maria Clara Costa Calvo1
Gastrointestinal tumors (GITs) rank among the leading causes of cancer mortality worldwide, accounting for more than one-third of oncology-related deaths estimated for 2024. Evidence shows that five-year survival exceeds 90 % when diagnosis occurs at a localized stage but drops to below 20 % in metastatic disease. This review synthesizes recent literature on the importance of early diagnosis of GITs, explores risk-based screening strategies, and analyzes barriers to their implementation. Searches in PubMed, SciELO, and Embase covered publications from 2020 to 2025. The data demonstrate tangible benefits from colonoscopy, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and non- nvasive tests such as the fecal immunochemical test and multitarget stool DNA, which reduce colorectal-cancer mortality by 30 %–60 %. Artificial-intelligence tools have increased the sensitivity of endoscopic detection of early lesions, while serum and microbiome biomarkers show promise for pancreatic and gastric-cancer screening. Socio-economic inequalities, procedural fear, and low health literacy nevertheless limit adherence, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Cost-effectiveness models indicate net savings when colonoscopy begins at 45 years of age, given the rising incidence of colorectal cancer in young adults. Investing in early diagnosis is therefore a cost-effective strategy that can save lives and reduce the economic burden of digestive cancers.
