EUROHELICAN-Accelerating Gastric Cancer Reduction Through Helicobacter pylori Eradication.

BACKGROUND

Most gastric cancer cases are attributable to chronic Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and can theoretically be prevented. The objectives of the EUROHELICAN project were to assess the feasibility, acceptability, effectiveness, and adverse events of the H. pylori screen-and-treat program in younger adults aged 30 to 34 years, for the first time in Europe; to evaluate long-term effects of H. pylori eradication in middle-aged adults (starting from 45 years of age) previously enrolled for at least 5 years in the GISTAR study in Latvia, and to prepare the IARC expert Working Group Report on population-based H. pylori screen-and-treat strategies for gastric cancer prevention.

METHODS

The study of H. pylori screen-and-treat in younger adults was conducted in the Community Healthcare Center Dr. Adolf Drolc Maribor following methodology prepared by the National Institute of Public Health of Slovenia. Assessment of possible effects of H. pylori screen-and-treat in the long term was conducted by following up on the long-running GISTAR study conducted by the Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine at the University of Latvia. A team of experts led by the Nantes University Hospital evaluated the study protocols and their progress at different stages. The IARC convened a Working Group of international experts to develop globally applicable guidance on best practices for implementing population-based H. pylori screen-and-treat strategies in adult populations to prevent gastric cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Both studies received a positive evaluation at different stages of completion and were deemed appropriate for testing the feasibility of H. pylori screen-and-treat in a community health care setting and investigating possible adverse effects of the strategy in the long-term. The IARC expert group guidance report on the implementation of population-based H. pylori screen-and-treat strategies to prevent gastric cancer in adults will guide future primary gastric cancer prevention programs in Europe and beyond.