[Prevention of gastric cancer by Helicobacter pylori eradication].
Though the relationship between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and gastric cancer has been proved in epidemiological studies and animal experiments, the prophylactic effect of H. pylori eradication is controversial in human studies. A large-scale clinical study performed by the JAPANGAST Study Group has confirmed that the eradication of H. pylori undoubtedly decreases the incidence of metachronous gastric cancer after endoscopic mucosal resection as published in The Lancet (372: 392-397, 2008). This study shows gastric cancer is a kind of infectious disease, not a lifestyle-related disease, and can thus be averted by preventing or curing the infection, suggesting the eradication of H. pylori might be indicated to prevent development of gastric cancers.
Asaka
Masahiro
M
Division of Gastroenterology and Hematology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan.
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005757:Gastritis, Atrophic / Q000209:etiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*