Objective: To study the role of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) in gastric carcinoma.
Methods: Hp was examined in 70 patients with gastric carcinoma, 62 patients with pre-malignant lesions and 16 controls by improved Warthin-Starry method and PCNA, p53, cerbB-2 protein examined immunohistochemically.
Results: The frequency of Hp infection in gastric carcinoma and its precusor lesions was significantly higher than that in the controls. There was no significant difference in Hp infection rate between gastric carcinoma and its precursor lesions, nor between the intestinal type and diffuse type of gastric carcinoma. Hp infection correlated well with expressions of PCNA, c-erbB-2 and with co-expression of PCNA, p53 and c-erbB-2 in gastric carcinoma and its precusors. p53 protein was expressed only in gastric carcinoma, and its expression level was higher in the presence than in the absence of Hp infection (P < 0.01).
Conclusion: Hp might act as a tumor promoter in the genesis of gastric cancer.