Biomarkers of Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric cancer

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and is predicted to become even more common in developing countries as the population ages. Since gastric cancer develops slowly over years to decades, and typically progresses though a series of well-defined histologic stages, cancer biomarkers have potential to identify asymptomatic individuals in whom surgery might be curative, or even those for whom antibiotics to eradicate H. pylori could prevent neoplastic transformation. Here we describe some of the challenges of biomarker discovery, summarize current approaches to biomarkers of gastric cancer, and explore some recent novel strategies.

Keywords: biomarkers; gastric cancer; helicobacter pylori.

Figure 1. Schematic representation of the main clinical outcomes of H. pylori infection. The right side of the figure shows the sequential steps of the precancerous cascade. Reproduced from reference with permission from John Wiley and Sons.