H. Pylori eradication may reduce gastric cancer risk

Gastric cancer risk was reduced in patients with Helicobacter pylori who had eradication treatment, according to the results of a meta-analysis.

Researchers analyzed data from seven studies that compared eradication treatment with placebo or no eradication treatment in patients with H. pylori.

The studies were randomized and controlled and performed in areas with high incidence of gastric cancer, such as from China, Japan and Columbia. The median follow-up was six years.

In the eradication treatment groups, 1.1% of patients (n=3,388) developed gastric cancer vs. 1.7% in the control groups (n=3,307). Eradication yielded a RR of 0.65 for the disease (95% CI, 0.43-0.98).

The RR was 0.66 (95% CI, 0.41-1.04) in a subgroup analysis of five studies in which researchers examined the effect of eradication treatment on progression of preneoplastic lesions.

In a subgroup analysis of two studies in which researchers examined gastric cancer incidence as a primary outcome, the RR was reduced further to 0.46 (95% CI, 0.26-0.82).

“Future research should focus on the identification of persons at higher risk because of genetic susceptibility and environmental factors who would benefit from preventive eradication therapy,” the researchers said.

Fuccio L. Ann Intern Med. 2009;151:121-128.