H. pylori eradication cuts new gastric cancers by half

One nonrandomized study suggested H. pylori eradication could prevent development of subsequent cancers after endoscopic resection, according to the authors, but subsequent open-label trials were inconsistent on whether the treatment reduced cancer incidence.

Accordingly, Dr. Choi and colleagues conducted a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial of 470 patients who underwent endoscopic resection for high-grade adenoma or early gastric cancer.

Of 396 patients included in an intention-to-treat analysis, 194 were randomized to receive antibiotics for H. pylori eradication, and 202 received placebo.

Over a median follow-up of 5.9 years, new gastric cancers developed in 14 patients (7.2%) who received treatment, and in 27 patients (13.4%) who received placebo (hazard ratio, 0.50; 95% confidence interval, 0.26-0.94; P = .03).