Clinical Characteristics and Helicobacter pylori Status of Gastric Cancer in Thailand

Background: Gastric cancer is the second leading course of cancer death worldwide and H. pylori infectionis an important risk factor for gastric cancer development. This study was design to evaluate the clinical,pathological features, survival rate and prevalence of H. pylori infection in gastric cancer in Thailand. Materialsand
Methods: Clinical information, histological features, endoscopic findings and H. pylori status were collectedfrom gastric cancer patients from Thammasat university hospital during June 1996-December 2011. H. pyloriinfection was assessed by histological evaluation, rapid urease test and serological test. Clinical information,endoscopic findings and histopathology of all patients were recorded and compared between patients with activeor non-active H. pylori infection.
Results: A total of 100 gastric cancer patients (55 men and 45 women withmean age of 55±16.8 years) were enrolled in this study. Common presenting symptoms were dyspepsia (74%),weight loss (66%), anemia (63%) and anorexia (38%). Mean duration of symptoms prior to diagnosis was 98days. Overall prevalence of H. pylori infection was 83% and active H. pylori infection was 40%. 1-year and5-year survival rates were 43% and 0%. There was no significant difference between active H. pylori infectionin different locations (proximal vs non-proximal: 47.1% vs 48.5%; P-value = 0.9, OR=0.9; 95%CI =0.3-3.1) andhistology of gastric cancer (diffuse type vs intestinal type: 47.4% vs 50%; P-value= 0.8, OR=0.9, 95%CI=0.3-2.7).However, linitis plastica was significantly more common in non-active than active H. pylori infection (27.9% vs0%; P-value <0.0001, OR =13.3, 95%CI=3.2-64.5). Moreover, gastric cancer stage 4 was higher in non-active thanactive H. pylori infection (93% vs 50%, P-value<0.001).
Conclusions: Prevalence of H. pylori infection in Thaigastric cancer patients was high but active infection was low. Most gastric cancer patients presented in advancestage and had a grave prognosis. Screening for gastric cancer in high risk individuals might be an appropriatetool for early detection and improve the treatment outcome for this particular disease in Thailand.