Association of Helicobacter Pylori Infection with Gastric Carcinogenesis and the Impact of Eradication Therapy

Globally, gastric cancer, as a highly prevalent malignant tumor, exerts great pressure on the public health system with its high morbidity and mortality rates. Studies have shown that Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection plays a key role in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer. This Gram-negative, spiral-shaped, microaerobic bacterium is able to specifically colonize the surface of gastric mucosal epithelial cells, leading to diseases such as chronic gastritis and peptic ulcers. Prolonged chronic inflammatory stimulation may trigger pathological changes in gastric mucosal cells, such as atrophy, intestinal chemotaxis, and heterogeneous hyperplasia, which are considered to be precancerous lesions of gastric cancer. Epidemiologic studies and clinical trials have confirmed a significant association between H. pylori infection and gastric cancer, which not only significantly increases the risk of gastric cancer but also accelerates its progression. Therefore, H. pylori eradication therapy is considered a core strategy for primary prevention of gastric cancer.