Correlation between colorectal cancer and Helicobacter pylori infection

Abstract

Objective To explore the correlation between Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) infection and colorectal cancer. Methods From January 2008 to January 2014, 263 patients pathologically diagnosed as colorectal cancer were selected as colorectal cancer group, and at the same period 263 patients with normal colon mucosa under colonoscopy were set as control group. The rates of H.pylori infection, the rates of H.pylori infection in patients with different pathological types of colorectal cancer, the rates of H.pylori infection accompanied with atrophic gastritis and the rates of H.pylori infection accompanied with intestinal metaplasia of two groups were retrospectively analyzed. The difference of H.pylori infection between proximal colorectal cancer and distal colorectal cancer was compared. Chi–square test was performed for comparison and odds ratio (OR) value and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. Results Among 263 patients with colorectal cancer, the H.pylori infection rate of colorectal cancer group was 63.50% (167/263), which was higher than that of control group (39.54%, 104/263), and the difference was statistically significant (χ2=27.66, OR=2.66, 95% CI 1.85 to 3.83, P<0.01). There was no statistical difference in rates of H.pylori infection among different pathological types of colorectal cancer (χ2=0.15, P=0.93). The rate of H.pylori infection accompanied with atrophic gastritis in patients with colorectal cancer was 46.39% (122/263) which was higher than that of control group (23.57%, 62/263), and the difference was statistically significant (χ2=28.53, OR=2.94, 95%CI 1.98 to 4.36, P<0.01). The rates of H.pylori infection accompanied with intestinal metaplasia in patients with colorectal cancer was 17.87% (47/263) which was higher than that of control group (4.18%, 11/263), and the difference was statistically significant (χ2=23.56, OR=5.50, 95%CI 2.76 to 10.95, P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the rate of H.pylori infection between the proximal colorectal cancer and the distal colorectal cancer (χ2=1.48, P=0.22). Conclusion H.pylori infection, together with atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia caused by it are correlated with colorectal cancer. Key words: Helicobacter pylori; Colorectal neoplasms; Gastritis, atrophic; Intestinal metaplasia; Location