Learning from an Emerging Infection: How the COVID-19 Pandemic Reshaped Gastric Cancer Care.

The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly disrupted gastric cancer care, reducing access to screening, delaying diagnosis, and altering therapeutic pathways worldwide. Beyond clinical challenges, it exposed structural weaknesses in healthcare systems but also accelerated innovation. We conducted a narrative review supported by a structured literature search (PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science; 1 January 2014-30 November 2025), with a narrative synthesis of observational studies, registry analyses, and meta-analyses addressing COVID-19-related changes in gastric cancer epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, vaccination, and telemedicine. A PRISMA-style flow diagram was used to illustrate study selection. Elective endoscopy volumes fell by up to 80%, leading to diagnostic backlogs and increased proportions of advanced-stage gastric cancer. Surgical postponements, modified chemotherapy and radiotherapy schedules, and reduced molecular/genetic testing further compromised outcomes. Conversely, vaccination, telemedicine, capsule endoscopy, and adaptive triage frameworks enabled partial recovery of services. Geographical variations were observed in the recovery of gastric cancer care services, with regions that had established screening infrastructure generally resuming activity more rapidly, whereas others experienced ongoing delays and diagnostic backlogs. This review integrates epidemiological, diagnostic, and therapeutic evidence to demonstrate how COVID-19 redefined gastric cancer care. By highlighting regional disparities and outlining a conceptual model for oncologic resilience, it provides an innovative framework for future crisis preparedness. The lessons of the pandemic-digital health integration, flexible treatment protocols, and international collaboration-represent a foundation for more robust, equitable gastric cancer management in the post-pandemic era.