New molecules to overcome trastuzumab resistance are also being evaluated. The association between H. pylori-induced gastritis and an increased risk of

developing colonic neoplasms has been confirmed in a recent study, but the causality for this intriguing association has still to be clarified. In 2013, Helicobacter pylori infection is still one of the world’s most prevalent infections and accounts for high morbidity and mortality. About 10–20% of subjects infected with the bacterium will develop complications of the infection including peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer (GC), AZD6738 clinical trial which accounts annually for at least 738.000 deaths [1]. During the past year, new data have been gained concerning GC prevention by eradication of H. pylori. For patients with advanced gastric cancer, ongoing phase II trials are evaluating safety and efficacy of new targeted molecules. This review summarizes recent clinical advances in the field of H. pylori and GC published between April 2012 and April 2013, including also recent insights concerning the association between H. pylori infection ABC294640 and extragastric malignancies. Helicobacter pylori

is a group I carcinogen to humans and the major risk factor for the development of sporadic GC of both intestinal and diffuse type. [2]. In around 10% of patients, H. pylori-induced chronic active gastritis progresses to severe atrophic changes in gastric 上海皓元医药股份有限公司 mucosa over time, usually many decades [3]. Up to 5% of patients with severe gastric atrophy may develop intestinal-type GC [4]. The classical Correa cascade concerns approximately one-half of the GC cases worldwide [5]. Diffuse-type GC instead arises mostly in H. pylori-infected gastric mucosa without severe atrophic changes. Early treatment for the infection is considered the key to prevent both GC entities [6]. To evaluate the benefit of H. pylori eradication for GC prevention, Lee et al. conducted a mass eradication of H. pylori infection over 4 years (2004–2008) in a Taiwanese population >30 years of age with a high prevalence of H. pylori infection [7].

Participants with a positive 13C-urea breath test underwent endoscopic screening and 1–2 courses of eradication therapy. The main outcome measures were changes in (i) the prevalence of H. pylori infection, (ii) prevalence and incidence of gastric atrophy, and (iii) GC incidence before (1995–2003) and after (2004–2008) chemoprevention. Eradication therapy was successful in 88.8% of participants. Reinfection/recrudescence rate was 1%. The reduction in H. pylori infection and incidence of gastric atrophy were 78.7% (95% CI 76.8–80.7%) and 61.1% (95% CI 18.5–81.5%), respectively. The prevalence of gastric atrophy was 59.9% in 2004 (immediately before chemoprevention) and 13.7% in 2008 (after chemoprevention), yielding an effectiveness of 77.2% (95% CI 72.3–81.