Abstract

GASTRIC CANCER RISK IN HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTED PATIENTS: A SYSTEMATIC OVERVIEW

Md. Zeyaullah & Vinod Kaul

Helicobacter pylori is a gastric pathogen that colonizes approximately 50% (over 3 billion) of the world's population, mainly in the developing countries. Infection with H. pylori leads to a chronic inflammatory condition called severe chronic atrophic gastritis (SCAG) and significantly increases the risk of developing duodenal and gastric ulcer disease and gastric cancer. Infection with H. pylori is the strongest known risk factor for gastric cancer. Gastric cancer ranks fourth in incidence and second in mortality among all cancers worldwide. People with SCAG have an increased risk of gastric adenomas in both the upper and lower parts of the stomach. Although H. pylori affects a large percentage of the population, only a small percentage of carriers develop this malignancy. Recent investigations have begun to identify the factors that lead to these complications. Such clinical diversities are caused by variations of H. pylori pathogenicity, host susceptibility, environmental factors, and interactions of these factors. The exact mechanisms underlying how H. pylori triggers or causes gastric cancer remain elusive.

Published Date: 2014-12-30;