Comparison between resectable gastric adenocarcinomas seropositive and seronegative for Helicobacter pylori

The preoperative seropositivity of Helicobacter pylori was determined in 128 patients who had undergone gastrectomy for primary gastric adenocarcinoma during the past 5 years. The overall seroprevalence of H. pylori was 64 per cent. Gastric cancers positive for H. pylori were associated with tumours located in the lower third of the stomach which were of localized type (Borrmann I and II) (P < 0.05), but not with age, sex, blood type, tumour size, invasion depth, lymph node metastases, histological type, DNA ploidy or type of surgery. The cumulative 5-year survival curves after surgical resection were significantly better in patients who were positive for H. pylori. Multivariate analysis revealed that seropositivity for H. pylori was not an independent prognostic factor. Pathological tumour node metastasis staging was the only prognostic indicator. Better prognosis for those with H. pylori-seropositive gastric cancer may be attributed to the more advanced stage of H. pylori-seronegative gastric cancers. The potential role of H. pylori in gastric cancer carcinogenesis and its biological significance warrant further investigation.