Helicobacterpylori Infection and Risk of Gastri c Cancer : Correlation with Subtypes of Intestinal Metaplasia

Kim, Tae Ho; Chang, Dong Kyung; Lee, Chang Hee; Kim, Joo Sung; Jung, Hyun Chae; Song, In Sung; Kim, Chung Yong; Kim, Woo Ho

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recently, the role of Helicobacter pylori as a causal factor in the etiology of gastric cancer has been reported. The aim of this study is to clarify the association of H. pylor infection, subtypes of intestinal metaplasia and gastric cancer.
METHODS
Gastroscopic biopsy speci mens were obtained from the patients with gastric cancer (n=70) and control subjects (n=70). The presence and severity of intestinal metaplasia and the subtypes of intestinal metaplasia were exam ined. The presence of H. pylori was evaluated using CLO test and Warthin-Starry staining. IgG anti body against CagA was evaluated using Western blotting kit.
RESULTS
The prevalence of H. pylor infection was 89% in patients with gastric cancer and 70% in controls (p=0.006, odds ratio, 3.32 95% confidence interval, 1.36 to 8.14). The prevalence of intestinal metaplasia was 71.4% in patients with gastric cancer and 47.1% in controls (p=0.003, odds ratio, 2.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.39 to 5.64). However, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of antibody against CagA and the prevalence of subtypes of intestinal metaplasia between the patients with gastric cancer and controls.
CONCLUSIONS
Infection with H. pylori might increase the risk of gastric cancer. However the anti-CagA positivity and certain types of intestinal metaplasia do not increase the risk of gastric cancer.