Review
Copyright ©2006 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. May 7, 2006; 12(17): 2713-2720
Published online May 7, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i17.2713
Latest insights into the effects of Helicobacter pylori infection on gastric carcinogenesis
Kazunari Murakami, Masaaki Kodama, Toshio Fujioka
Kazunari Murakami, Masaaki Kodama, Toshio Fujioka, Department of Gastroenterology, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Oita, Japan
Supported by a Grant-in Aid for Cancer Research from the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare, No. 08457170
Correspondence to: Kazunari Murakami, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, 1-1 Idaigaoka, Hasama, Oita 879-5593, Japan. murakam@med.oita-u.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-97-5866193 Fax: +81-97-5866194
Received: September 1, 2005
Revised: September 12, 2005
Accepted: October 9, 2005
Published online: May 7, 2006
Abstract

There appears to be the strong association between Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) and gastric cancer. We reviewed the latest evidences about the effects of H pylori infection on gastric carcinogenesis, classified into epidemiology, dynamics of gastric mucosal changes, DNA damages, virulence factors, host factors, and source of gastric malignancy. Through the considerable progress made in research into virulence factors resulting from differences between H pylori strains, such as cagA positivity, as well as into host factors, such as gene polymorphisms, a diverse spectrum of H pylori-associated diseases, including gastric cancer, is beginning to lend itself to elucidation. The impact of the novel hypothesis advanced by Houghton et al proposing bone-marrow derived stem cells (BMDC) as a potential source of gastric malignancy on evolving research remains to be seen with interest. Further progress in research into H pylori eradication as a viable prophylaxis of gastric cancer, as well as into the mechanisms of gastric carcinogenesis, is to be eagerly awaited for the current year and beyond.

Keywords: Helicobacter pylori; Gastric cancer; Carcinogenesis; CagA; Intestinal metaplasia