Published in the journal Helicobacter, the study’s findings offer promising new insights into the prevention and treatment of stomach cancer
A groundbreaking study has revealed that gastric bacteria, which leak through the stomach lining, play a significant role in the development of stomach cancer, a condition with limited treatment options and poor survival rates. The research, conducted by the University of Birmingham, identifies a crucial interaction between Helicobacter pylori and non-H. pylori bacteria in the pre-cancerous stage of gastric cancer.
Published in the journal Helicobacter, the study’s findings offer promising new insights into the prevention and treatment of stomach cancer. Dr. Amanda Rossiter-Pearson, a key researcher, expressed optimism about the potential of these results to shape future cancer prevention strategies. “We are excited about the potential of this observation to open a new avenue of research in the prevention of stomach cancer. It is possible that a simple antibiotic treatment could be administered to treat these bacteria. However, there is a lot more work to do,” said Dr. Rossiter-Pearson.
The study emphasizes the need to identify the specific bacteria involved and understand how their presence during the pre-cancerous stage may influence the risk of developing gastric cancer.
Gastric cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. Infection with Helicobacter pylori, while asymptomatic for most people, is a well-established primary risk factor for stomach cancer. However, the mystery remains as to why only about 1% of such infections progress to gastric cancer.
The research team used cutting-edge imaging technology to track the bacteria’s location, discovering that while H. pylori only colonizes gastric glands, non-H. pylori bacteria leak through the stomach lining in conditions like gastric intestinal metaplasia, a pre-cancerous state. This bacterial leakage into deeper gastric tissues could be a previously overlooked factor in cancer progression.
While early detection of H. pylori can be treated with antibiotics, once pre-cancerous changes have developed, antibiotic treatment becomes ineffective. This highlights the urgent need for alternative treatments to prevent the progression of gastric cancer.
