Trial Information

Effect of Helicobacter Pylori Eradication on Glandular Atrophy and Intestinal Metaplasia in Patients Undergoing Subtotal Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a primary etiological agent leading to chronic gastritis
and peptic ulcer. The organism is also associated with gastric cancer in epidemiological
studies. However, detailed mechanism of carcinogenesis remains unknown. Histolopathological
studies indicate that chronic H. pylori infection progresses over decades through stages of
chronic gastritis, atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia and cancer. Gastric atrophy and
intestinal metaplasia are considered as precancerous lesions, but whether H. pylori
eradication improves these lesions is controversial. And the issue has not been evaluated in
gastric cancer patients. However, despite the lack of evidence proven by a well-designed
study, current guidelines from Europe and Japan recommend H. pylori eradication treatment in
patients who were treated for gastric cancer by surgically or endoscopically. Thus, it is
important to evaluate whether H. pylori eradication can improve known precancerous lesion,
i.e. glandular atrophy and intestinal metaplasia in gastric cancer patients. Such
histological improvement may eventually reduce secondary gastric cancer development and
provide evidence for current guidelines. Helicobacter pylori is a primary etiological agent
leading to chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer. The organism is also associated with gastric
cancer in epidemiological studies. However, detailed mechanism of carcinogenesis remains
unknown. Histolopathological studies indicate that chronic H. pylori infection progresses
over decades through stages of chronic gastritis, atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia
and cancer. Gastric atrophy and intestinal metaplasia are considered as precancerous
lesions, but whether H. pylori eradication improves these lesions is controversial. And the
issue has not been evaluated in gastric cancer patients. However, despite the lack of
evidence proven by a well-designed study, current guidelines from Europe and Japan recommend
H. pylori eradication treatment in patients who were treated for gastric cancer by
surgically or endoscopically. Thus, it is important to evaluate whether H. pylori
eradication can improve known precancerous lesion, i.e. glandular atrophy and intestinal
metaplasia in gastric cancer patients. Such histological improvement may eventually reduce
secondary gastric cancer development and provide evidence for current guidelines.