Korean J Intern Med.  2015 Mar;30(2):133-139. 10.3904/kjim.2015.30.2.133.

Roadmap for elimination of gastric cancer in Korea

• Graham DY

• KMID: 2160675
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2015.30.2.133

Abstract

Most gastric cancers are caused by infection with the common human bacterial pathogen, Helicobacter pylori. It is now accepted that gastric cancer can be prevented and virtually eliminated by H. pylori eradication and this knowledge was responsible for country-wide H. pylori eradication combined with secondary cancer prevention for those with residual risk that was introduced in Japan in 2013. Korea is a high H. pylori prevalence and high gastric cancer incidence country and a good candidate for a gastric cancer elimination program. The presence of an H. pylori infection is now considered as an indication for treatment of the infection. However, antimicrobial drug resistance is common among H. pylori in Korea making effective therapy problematic. Country-wide studies of the local and regional antimicrobial resistance patterns are needed to choose the most appropriate therapies. H. pylori and gastric cancer eradication can be both efficient and cost effective making it possible and practical to make Korea H. pylori and gastric cancer free. There is no reason to delay.

Keyword

Stomach neoplasms; Helicobacter pylori; Eradication therapy; Cancer prevention; Primary prevention

MeSH Terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents/*therapeutic use
Disease Eradication
Drug Resistance, Bacterial
Helicobacter Infections/*drug therapy/epidemiology/microbiology
Helicobacter pylori/*drug effects/growth & development
Humans
Prevalence
Primary Prevention/*methods
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Risk Assessment
Risk Factors
Stomach Neoplasms/epidemiology/microbiology/*prevention & control
Treatment Outcome
Anti-Bacterial Agents