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The utility of serologic tests as biomarkers for Helicobacter pylori-associated precancerous lesions and gastric cancer varies between Latin American countries

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Abstract

Purpose

Currently, studies on serologic diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric cancer (GC) in Latin America are scarce. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between H. pylori serology tests in patients with early precancerous lesions or GC, when compared with non-atrophic gastritis in Colombia, Paraguay, and Mexico, three countries in Latin America with a high prevalence of H. pylori infection but contrasting rates of GC mortality.

Methods

Gastric biopsies and blood samples were obtained from patients attending the gastroenterology or oncology services of hospitals in the three participating countries. IgG antibodies against H. pylori whole-cell antigens and CagA were tested in 1,117 sera using an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay.

Results

Positive and significant associations were shown for H. pylori seropositivity and preneoplastic lesions in Mexico (OR 2.0; 95 % CI 1.1–3.4) but not in Colombia (OR 1.2; 95 % CI 0.6–2.1) or Paraguay (OR 1.5; 95 % CI 0.6–3.2); no significant associations were shown for GC in any country. CagA seropositivity was associated with preneoplasic lesions in all three countries (ORs = 2.1, 3.0, and 3.1 for Mexico, Colombia, and Paraguay, respectively), and with GC only in Colombia (OR 4.3; 95 % CI 2.1–9.2).

Conclusions

In countries of Latin America, the IgG CagA test might be a useful biomarker for patients with gastric preneoplastic lesions and for those at risk of developing gastric cancer.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by CONACYT, México (grant No. 69450), and by Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Colombia (Grant No. 1044-06). JT is a recipient of a exclusivity scholarship from Fundación IMSS, México.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Investigación en Salud Poblacional, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Mexico

    L. Flores-Luna & E. Lazcano

  2. Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Unidad de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Av. Cuauhtémoc 330, Mexico, DF, Mexico

    M. Camorlinga-Ponce & J. Torres

  3. Grupo Investigación Epidemiológica, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Bogotá, Colombia

    G. Hernandez-Suarez & R. Murillo

  4. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Asunción, Paraguay

    E. Kasamatsu

  5. Moores UCSD Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA

    M. E. Martínez

Authors
  1. L. Flores-Luna
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  2. M. Camorlinga-Ponce
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  3. G. Hernandez-Suarez
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  4. E. Kasamatsu
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  5. M. E. Martínez
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  6. R. Murillo
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  7. E. Lazcano
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  8. J. Torres
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. Torres.

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Flores-Luna, L., Camorlinga-Ponce, M., Hernandez-Suarez, G. et al. The utility of serologic tests as biomarkers for Helicobacter pylori-associated precancerous lesions and gastric cancer varies between Latin American countries. Cancer Causes Control 24, 241–248 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-012-0106-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-012-0106-8

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