Reducing Gastric Cancer Risk Through Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Bacteria

A new study indicates that targeting and treating Helicobacter pylori, a prevalent bacterium in the stomach, could significantly lower the global incidence of gastric cancer. Researchers predict that as many as 15.6 million individuals born between 2008 and 2017 might develop gastric cancer in their lifetime, with approximately 76% of these cases attributable to H. pylori infection. The study, published in Nature Medicine, emphasizes the urgent need for population-wide screening and treatment programs for H. pylori to prevent future cases.

Gastric cancer remains the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, largely driven by chronic infections with H. pylori. Despite previous prevention efforts, rising incidence rates among younger populations and increasing global demographic shifts threaten to reverse progress. The researchers analyzed data from 185 countries, combined with United Nations demographic projections, to estimate that without intervention, millions will be diagnosed with gastric cancer, with the highest burden in Asian countries like China and India.

Modeling suggests that implementing widespread H. pylori screening and treatment could reduce the number of gastric cancer cases by up to 75%. However, the accuracy of these projections depends on the quality of data, especially in low-resource regions where cancer registries are often incomplete. Nevertheless, the study advocates for enhanced efforts in gastric cancer prevention through early detection and management of H. pylori infections, aiming to curb the future global burden of this disease.