Particle.news
Download on the App Store
7 ARTICLES
·
4h ago

Global H. pylori Screening Could Avert 75% of 15.6 Million Future Gastric Cancers

Published in Nature Medicine, the study attributes 76% of future gastric cancers to H. pylori infection, urging population-wide screening programs to curb the global burden.

Millions of today's youth are expected to develop stomach cancer
Image
Image
Image

Overview

  • The IARC study estimates 15.6 million people born between 2008 and 2017 will develop gastric cancer in their lifetimes.
  • Researchers attribute 76% of those cases to Helicobacter pylori infection, a treatable bacterium detected by blood, breath or stool tests.
  • Modeling shows that population-level H. pylori screen-and-treat programs could reduce future gastric cancer cases by up to 75%.
  • Asia is projected to account for 10.6 million cases (68% of the total), with the Americas, Africa and Europe facing 13%, 11% and 8% of the burden respectively.
  • The study’s authors and Cancer Research UK are urging pilot screening initiatives, targeted public health investments and accelerated development of an H. pylori vaccine.