title: Helicobacter pylori and the prevention of gastric cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Helicobacter pylori is an important cause of stomach cancer that infects a substantial proportion of the Canadian adult population. H pylori can be detected by noninvasive tests and effectively eradicated by medical treatment. Screening for and treatment of H pylori may represent a significant opportunity for preventive oncology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cancer Care Ontario organized a workshop held in Toronto, Ontario, on October 24 and 25, 2002, to: review the current state of knowledge regarding H pylori treatment and cancer prevention; determine if there is currently sufficient evidence to consider the promotion of H pylori treatment for the purpose of cancer prevention; identify critical areas for research; and advise Cancer Care Ontario on H pylori and cancer prevention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Workshop participants developed a number of recommendations for research into the relationship between H pylori and stomach cancer, including determining the prevalence of infection in different regions of Canada, the pathogenetic sequence of carcinogenesis from H pylori infection, and the implementation of a prospective observational study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the rate of H pylori infection is declining in Canada and the treatment of H pylori is generally accepted to be safe, the evidence to date may not warrant the implementation of population screening for H pylori infection to prevent gastric carcinoma in average-risk populations. Rather, a demonstration project is needed to estimate prevalence, evaluate the merits of screening, measure patient compliance and physician participation, develop education materials, establish a registry for monitoring and evaluation, and develop a quality assurance framework.
authors.affiliation: Division of Research and Cancer Control, Cancer Care Ontario, 620 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 2L7. terry.sullivan@cancercare.on.ca
authors.forename: Terrence
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Fredrick D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Ashbury
authors.forename: Carlo A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Fallone
authors.forename: Farah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Naja
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schabas
authors.forename: Philip C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Hébert
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D015995:Prevalence; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control