A germline mutation of CTNNA1 was identified in one family without an obvious CDH1 mutation, followed by silencing of residual CTNNA1 in biopsies under gastroscopy 51 in two members of a families affected by gastric cancer and four members of families containing signet-ring cells, a histopathological indicator of gastric cancer based on microscopic features with a poor prognosis 59. The gene discussed is CDH1; the disease is gastric cancer.