Serum levels of SPON2 in patients with GC (n = 83) were significantly higher compared with those of healthy controls (n = 25), patients with atrophic gastritis (n = 20) and patients with gastric stromal tumours (n = 20; Figure 2A), but there was no difference in serum SPON2 levels among healthy controls, patients with atrophic gastritis and patients with gastric stromal tumours (P > .05). The gene discussed is SPON2; the disease is chronic atrophic gastritis.