Helicobacter pylori infection causes gastric cancer? A review of the epidemiological, meta-analytic, and experimental evidence.
Since the discovery of Campylobacter-like organisms Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) more than two decades ago the possibility of a relationship with gastric cancer has been postulated, tested and supposedly proven. There have been numerous human studies of various designs from many countries around the world. Several meta-analyses have been published and more recently a small number of experimental animal studies were reported looking at the association between H pylori infection and gastric cancer. Over the years, the human epidemiological studies have produced conflicting results; the meta-analyses have as one would expect produced similar pooled estimates; while the early experimental animal studies require replication. The exact mechanisms by which H pylori might cause gastric cancer are still under investigation and remain to be elucidated.
Eslick
Guy-D
GD
School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. eslickg@med.usyd.edu.au
D000818:Animals; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D023421:Models, Animal; D012307:Risk Factors; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology