Helicobacter pylori and miR-136: Key players in gastric cancer research (mini review)

The poor prognosis associated with gastric cancer (GC) is attributable to its frequent diagnosis at an incurable advanced stage. The infection-induced dysregulation of gastric mucosal function by Helicobacter pylori remains the hallmark risk factor for gastric neoplasms. However, the complex underlying molecular mechanisms between H. pylori infection and malignancy pose severe limitations for preclinical therapeutic interventions. Moreover, increased expression of microRNA-136 (miR-136) directly precedes H. pylori infection. Considering these pathways of endemic GC initiation, this mini review suggests that H. pylori -induced miR-136 expression not only functions as another candidate but actually demonstrates paradigm-shifting significance for noninvasive GC prescreening.