Prevalence of gastric mucosal interleukin-1 polymorphisms in Kenyan patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Abstract

According to data from the Nairobi Cancer Registry, gastric cancer is the fourth most common malignancy in adult males and the fifth most common in adult females. However, this may not represent the true situation because of under-reporting of cases. In the development of gastric cancer, environmental factors such as smoking, diet and, in particular, infection with H. pylori are significant. 1 Based on epidemiological studies, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) identified H. pylori as a ‘group 1 agent (definite carcinogen)’. 2 H. pylori infection can result in decreased acid secretion with subsequent mucosal atrophy and intestinal metaplasia. 1 Another precondition for mucosal atrophy is autoimmunity against parietal cells, which can mimic classic autoimmune gastritis with the presence of various autoantibodies in up to 40% of H. pylori-infected individuals. 1 The occurrence of intestinal metaplasia, for which a relationship with gastric cancer is strongly suggested, has been demonstrated in approximately 60% of patients with H. pylori infection. 1 The metaplasia may then progress to gastric cancer, especially to tumours of the intestinal type. 1