Brief Article
Copyright ©2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 21, 2009; 15(43): 5465-5471
Published online Nov 21, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.5465
Association between Helicobacter pylori seropositivity and digestive tract cancers
I-Chen Wu, Deng-Chyang Wu, Fang-Jung Yu, Jaw-Yuan Wang, Chao-Hung Kuo, Sheau-Fang Yang, Chao-Ling Wang, Ming-Tsang Wu
I-Chen Wu, Deng-Chyang Wu, Fang-Jung Yu, Chao-Hung Kuo, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan, China
Deng-Chyang Wu, Jaw-Yuan Wang, Chao-Hung Kuo, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan, China
Jaw-Yuan Wang, Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan, China
Sheau-Fang Yang, Department of Pathology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan, China
Chao-Ling Wang, Ming-Tsang Wu, Graduate Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan, China
Chao-Ling Wang, Department of Preventive Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaoshiung 807, Taiwan, China
Ming-Tsang Wu, Department of Family Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan, China
Author contributions: Wu IC, Wu DC and Wu MT participated in the analysis of data, designed and conducted the research and wrote the manuscript; Yang SF participated in the laboratory analysis; Yu FJ, Wang JY, Kuo CH and Wang CL participated in the collection of study subjects.
Supported by Grants From Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, 97-ND-006, the National Science Council, NSC 97-2314-B-037-018, NSC 98-2314-B-037-004, and the Department of Health, Taiwan
Correspondence to: Ming-Tsang Wu, MD, ScD, Department of Family Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, 100 Shih-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan, China. 960021@ms.kmuh.org.tw
Telephone: +886-7-3121101-2315 Fax: +886-7-3221806
Received: September 1, 2009
Revised: October 9, 2009
Accepted: October 16, 2009
Published online: November 21, 2009
Abstract

AIM: To explore the role of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection on the risk of digestive tract cancers.

METHODS: In total, 199 oral squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC), 317 esophageal SCC, 196 gastric cardia and non-cardia adenocarcinoma and 240 colon adenocarcinoma patients were recruited for serum tests of H pylori infection. Two hospital- and one community-based control groups were used for the comparisons. H pylori seropositivity was determined by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay method against H pylori IgG.

RESULTS: Presence of H pylori infection was significantly inversely associated with esophageal SCC [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 0.315-0.472, all P-value < 0.05] but positively associated with gastric adenocarcinoma (both cardia and non-cardia) (AOR: 1.636-3.060, all P-value < 0.05) in comparison to the three control groups. Similar results were not found in cancers of the oral cavity and colon.

CONCLUSION: Our findings support the finding that H pylori seropositivity is inversely associated with esophageal SCC risk, but increases the risk of gastric cardia adenocarcinoma.

Keywords: Helicobacter pylori infection; Oral cancer; Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; Gastric cardia adenocarcinoma; Colon cancer