title: Helicobacter pylori seropositivity and risk of lung cancer.
abstract: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a risk factor for distal stomach cancer, and a few small studies have suggested that H. pylori may be a potential risk factor for lung cancer. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a study of 350 lung adenocarcinoma cases, 350 squamous cell carcinoma cases, and 700 controls nested within the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study (ATBC) cohort of male Finnish smokers. Controls were one-to-one matched by age and date of baseline serum draw. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays to detect immunoglobulin G antibodies against H. pylori whole-cell and cytotoxin-associated gene (CagA) antigens, we calculated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for associations between H. pylori seropositivity and lung cancer risk using conditional logistic regression. H. pylori seropositivity was detected in 79.7% of cases and 78.5% of controls. After adjusting for pack-years and cigarettes smoked per day, H. pylori seropositivity was not associated with either adenocarcinoma (OR: 1.1, 95% CI: 0.75-1.6) or squamous cell carcinoma (OR: 1.1, 95% CI: 0.77-1.7). Results were similar for CagA-negative and CagA-positive H. pylori seropositivity. Despite earlier small studies suggesting that H. pylori may contribute to lung carcinogenesis, H. pylori seropositivity does not appear to be associated with lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America. koshiolj@mail.nih.gov
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koshiol
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.forename: Tram K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Philip R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Stephanie J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Weinstein
authors.forename: Jarmo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Virtamo
authors.forename: Demetrius
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Albanes
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Perez-Perez
authors.forename: Neil E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Caporaso
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Blaser
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D000368:Aged; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010919:Placebos; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012306:Risk; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D010919:Placebos; C080866:cagA protein, Helicobacter pylori