Chemoprevention of Gastric Cancer: <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Eradication

Kim, Eun Jin; Lee, Hang Lak

doi:2017.17.4.166

Korean J Helicobacter Up Gastrointest Res > Volume 17(4); 2017 > Article

Review

The Korean Journal of Helicobacter and Upper Gastrointestinal Research 2017;17(4):166-168.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7704/kjhugr.2017.17.4.166 Published online December 10, 2017.

Chemoprevention of Gastric Cancer: Helicobacter pylori Eradication

Eun Jin Kim, Hang Lak Lee

Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University Seoul Hospital, Seoul, Korea. alwayshang@hanyang.ac.kr

위암의 화학 예방 요법: Helicobacter 제균 치료

김은진, 이항락

한양대학교병원 소화기내과

Correspondence: Hang Lak Lee,
Email: alwayshang@hanyang.ac.kr

Received: 23 October 2017 • Revised: 6 November 2017 • Accepted: 7 November 2017

Abstract

Gastric cancer is one of the most common fatal malignancies in the world, with a high incidence in Korea and Japan. Helicobacter pylori infection is an important factor in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer. Epidemiological studies have shown a strong causal relationship between H. pylori infection and gastric cancer. Animal studies have also shown that eradication of H. pylori infection, especially at the early stage, is effective in preventing H. pylori-related gastric carcinogenesis. H. pylori eradication leads to regression and prevents the progression of gastric precancerous lesions but only in a minority of cases. H. pylori eradication appears to be the most promising approach for gastric cancer prevention. The current available data from human studies show that H. pylori eradication can reduce the risk of developing gastric cancer, and this strategy is more useful in patients without atrophic gastritis or intestinal metaplasia. A longer follow-up and additional studies are needed for a better understanding of this issue.

Key Words: Chemoprevention; Helicobacter pylori; Stomach neoplasms