Does Helicobacter pylori infection play a role in lung cancer?
BACKGROUND
Helicobacter pylori infection is a world-wide common disease and leads to many gastrointestinal and respiratory illnesses. It is suggested that one of these respiratory illnesses is lung cancer.


METHODS
Forty-three patients with non-small cell lung cancer and 28 control subjects have been included to this study. H. pylori status of the patients and controls was determined by immunoblot for the detection of IgG (RIDA Blot Helicobacter). All subjects were examined to evaluate the presence of VacA and CagA gene.


RESULTS
Seropositivity of anti H. pylori IgG was significantly higher in cancer patients than in control groups, 40 (93%) and 12 (42%), respectively (P<0.01). Although both VacA and CagA seropositivity was high in lung cancer patients, only VacA positivity was statistically significant when compared with control subjects, 35 (81%) and 11 (42%), respectively (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
H. pylori infection may be associated with development of lung cancer.
Ece
Ferah
F
Department of Pulmonary Oncology, SSK Sureyyapasa Chest Diseases Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. fkorap@hotmail.com
F Hatabay
Nilgun
N
Erdal
Nuray
N
Gedik
Canan
C
Guney
Cengiz
C
Aksoy
Ferda
F
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000382:microbiology; D000368:Aged; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000382:microbiology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000382:microbiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C074689:VacA protein, Helicobacter pylori; C080866:cagA protein, Helicobacter pylori