title: Meta-analysis: can Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment reduce the risk for gastric cancer?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with gastric cancer, but the effect of eradication treatment on gastric cancer risk is not well defined.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether H. pylori eradication treatment can reduce the risk for gastric cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and online clinical trial registers through 31 January 2009, without language restrictions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized trials that compared eradication treatment with no treatment in H. pylori-positive patients and that assessed gastric cancer or progression of preneoplastic lesions during follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two authors independently reviewed articles and extracted data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven studies met inclusion criteria, 1 of which was excluded from pooled analysis because of clinical and methodological heterogeneity. All studies were performed in areas with high incidence of gastric cancer, mostly in Asia. Overall, 37 of 3388 (1.1%) treated patients developed gastric cancer compared with 56 of 3307 (1.7%) untreated (control) participants. In a pooled analysis of 6 studies with a total of 6695 participants followed from 4 to 10 years, the relative risk for gastric cancer was 0.65 (95% CI, 0.43 to 0.98).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All studies but 1 were performed in Asia. Only 2 assessed gastric cancer incidence, and only 2 were double-blinded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment seems to reduce gastric cancer risk.
authors.affiliation: University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fuccio
authors.forename: Rocco Maurizio
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Zagari
authors.forename: Leonardo Henry
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Eusebi
authors.forename: Liboria
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Laterza
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cennamo
authors.forename: Liza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ceroni
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grilli
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bazzoli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards; D012307:Risk Factors; D013270:Stomach / Q000473:pathology; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents