Source: Dr. Cheng on Digestion 2018-01-19 Author: Dr. Cheng Hong
On January 8, 2017, the 2017 National Science and Technology Awards Conference was held in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Peking University medical three outstanding science and technology successfully won the second prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award.
In the achievements of "the creation and application of key technologies of comprehensive prevention and control system of gastric cancer" with Professor Ji Jiafu of Peking University Cancer Hospital as the first person, the feasible strategy of gastric cancer prevention and control was pioneered in the world to effectively reduce the risk of gastric cancer. It is the first and only prospective randomized controlled intervention study in the world to confirm that eradication of Helicobacter pylori can effectively prevent gastric cancer and reduce the incidence of gastric cancer by 39%. It is also clear for the first time that it can prevent gastric cancer in people with severe precancerous lesions and the elderly. The results of this large-scale population study contributed to the formulation and promulgation of the World Health Organization's strategy for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori to prevent gastric cancer.
According to WHO statistics, in recent years, China has accounted for more than 40% of the annual new incidence and death of gastric cancer in the world. China is currently the country with the highest incidence and death of gastric cancer in the world, and the incidence of gastric cancer in young people has been increasing in recent years. The research results of Peking University Medicine not only clarify that for patients with non-atrophic gastritis, the eradication of Helicobacter pylori can significantly reduce the risk of gastric cancer, but also clarify that for patients who have already developed precancerous lesions, the eradication of Helicobacter pylori can also prevent gastric cancer. The effect of this research result is of great significance and value especially for high-risk groups of gastric cancer. China's consensus on the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection has proposed that Helicobacter pylori infection is the most important controllable risk factor for the prevention of gastric cancer.
Detection: There are many methods that can be used for screening and detection of Helicobacter pylori infection, such as breath test, stool antigen test (reagents need to pass clinical verification), Helicobacter pylori serum antibody test (note that antibody positive indicates previous infection, and for those who have not received eradication treatment, it indicates the possibility of active infection), and related tests through gastroscopic gastric mucosal biopsy. During the detection, it should be noted that any test method has some false negative or false positive conditions. (See link: Detection of Helicobacter pylori infection)
Treatment: For those who need treatment and are detected to have active Helicobacter pylori infection, the vast majority of infected people can be successfully eradicated by regular treatment programs containing antibiotics. In addition to reducing the risk of gastric cancer, patients may also obtain other benefits, such as reducing the risk of peptic ulcer occurrence or recurrence, and improving dyspepsia symptoms.
