Considering that some patients with signs of gastric autoimmunity characterized by anti-PCA may not develop atrophy, and therefore may not be at increased risk for gastric cancer, we have evaluated the rationale of combining anti-PCA and anti-IFA (the latter highly specific for atrophic gastritis) as markers of autoimmunity with the serological markers for gastric mucosal atrophy, namely pepsinogen and G-17 detection. This evidence concerns the gene FLVCR1 and chronic atrophic gastritis.