Latest news with #JinYoungPark
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Common bacterial infection with no symptoms could be the reason behind millions of stomach cancer cases, study warns
A common bacteria found in the stomach could be fuelling millions of stomach cancer cases globally. A new study suggests this bacterial infection could cause nearly 12 million cancers among people born over a single decade. Scientists from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organisation, project that if current trends continue, around 15.6 million people born between 2008 and 2017 will be diagnosed with stomach (gastric) cancer in their lifetime. Of all those cases – 76%, i.e., a staggering 11.9 million, may be caused by the Helicobacter pylori bacteria (H. pylori), according to a study published in the journal Nature Medicine . Read on to know more. What is H. pylori? Stomach cancer, often called a 'silent killer,' is grabbing global attention following the striking new warning – thanks to the world's most under-the-radar risk. Helicobacter pylori, previously known as Campylobacter pylori, is a gram-negative, flagellated, helical bacterium. Mutants can have a rod or curved rod shape that exhibits less virulence. This easily transmissible bacterium often shows no symptoms – which makes it more invincible. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Let's explore more. A common but concealed inhabitant: Half the world's population hosts H. pylori in their stomach lining, often without visible symptoms. It's classified as a class I carcinogen by IARC and the US Carcinogens Report. Transmission vectors: The bacterium spreads through contaminated food or water and close contact, like saliva or fecal-oral routes. It's more prevalent in regions with poor sanitation and crowded living conditions, especially in Asia, Africa, and parts of Latin America. Silent but damaging: Though only 10–20% may show mild symptoms like indigestion or bloating, H. pylori quietly triggers chronic inflammation – setting the stage for ulcers, atrophic gastritis, and eventually cancer. What does the study underline? For the study, scientists examined the incidence of stomach cancer in 185 countries in 2022 and combined it with projections of future deaths. They looked at the potential impact of screen-and-treat strategies for H. pylori and found the number of stomach cancers could be cut by up to 75% overall. Asia accounts for two-thirds of projected future cases, with 10.6 million cases (68% of the total), followed by the Americas (2 million or 13%), Africa (1.7 million or 11%), Europe (1.2 million or 8%), and Oceania (0.07 million or 0.4%). The study projected that under current trends, 11.9 million people could be diagnosed with stomach cancer attributable to H. pylori infection by 2101, which is the year someone born in 2017 would turn 84. Dr. Jin Young Park, one of the study's co-authors and head of the gastric cancer prevention team at the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), said: 'It is essential that health authorities make gastric cancer prevention a priority and accelerate efforts to control it by planning pilot and feasibility projects, including H. pylori screen-and-treat programmes,' adding, 'With demographic changes set to increase the gastric cancer burden in many parts of the world, there is an urgent need for coordinated prevention strategies and for regional health systems to be prepared to manage the growing burden. ' H. pylori and stomach cancer: A deadly connection Stomach cancer is largely preventable, but the prognosis is poor once a patient is diagnosed. It is the fifth most common form of cancer worldwide, killing an estimated 770,000 people per year. As per the study, chronic infection with H. pylori is a major cause, and it helps explain the rise in stomach cancers among young people in recent years. The link between H. pylori and gastric adenocarcinoma is solid: infected individuals have a 2–6-fold greater risk. According to research , around 90% of stomach cancers are linked to this infection, and up to 89% of non-cardia gastric cancers may be due to H. pylori. Its presence is also tied to MALT lymphoma, with tumor regression observed after eradication. But how does a bug become a carcinogen? The bacterium's virulence, especially strains containing the cagA gene and the cag pathogenicity island, intensifies inflammation and damages DNA repair mechanisms. Persistent inflammation produces reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, leading to DNA damage in gastric cells. Genetic susceptibility and co-factors: Not all infected individuals develop cancer. A study showed that certain genetic variants prompt immune-suppressive environments via IFNα, increasing cancer risk. Environmental risk factors – smoking, high salt intake, low fruit/vegetable diets, obesity, and genetic predispositions – can aggravate the damage. What is stomach cancer? Gastric cancer, also known as stomach cancer, is a disease where malignant (cancerous) cells form in the lining of the stomach. It's a growth of cells that starts in the stomach, a muscular, sac-like organ in the upper abdomen that plays a key role in digesting food. Most stomach cancers are adenocarcinomas, which develop from the gland cells in the stomach's inner lining. While stomach cancer rates have declined in many parts of the world, it's still a significant health concern, particularly in East Asia. Symptoms: Early-stage stomach cancer often doesn't cause noticeable symptoms, but later stages can include pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen, heartburn, feeling full after small meals, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss. Risk Factors: Risk factors include Helicobacter pylori infection, diet (especially high salt and smoked/preserved foods), obesity, smoking, and family history of stomach cancer. Preventing the invisible threat Screen-and-treat programs: The study highlights that national initiatives to screen for and eradicate H. pylori could reduce new stomach cancer cases by up to 75%. Eradication has already reduced gastric cancer risk by roughly 75% in treated populations. Effective treatment protocols: Current treatment involves two weeks of quadruple therapy: two antibiotics, a PPI, plus possibly bismuth. However, rising antibiotic resistance often requires multiple courses. Early detection boosts survival: In the US, early cancer diagnosis rates rose by 53% (2004–2021), improving survival to around 75% – compared to just 7% for late-stage detection. In regions with high H. pylori prevalence, targeted screening via endoscopy and breath/stool tests starting from age 40–50 is recommended. New study finds better treatment for Parkinson's disease
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Common bacteria ‘fuels millions of cases of stomach cancer across the globe'
A common bacteria is fuelling millions of cases of stomach cancer worldwide – but screening may turn the tide, experts have said. Scientists from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) – part of the World Health Organisation – project that, if nothing is done, around 15.6 million people across the globe born between 2008 and 2017 will be diagnosed with stomach (gastric) cancer in their lifetime. Of these cases, some 11.9 million (76%) will be due to infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). While the vast majority of new cases will be in Asia (particularly India and China), some two million could occur in the Americas, 1.7 million in Africa and 1.2 million in Europe. H. pylori is a bacteria that infects the lining of the stomach and is thought to be spread from person to person and via contaminated food and water. Research is still ongoing into how the infection is spread and how it may cause stomach cancer and another type, non-Hodgkin lymphoma. For many people, H. pylori does not cause issues and will not need the standard treatment of antibiotics, but it can be the cause of ongoing indigestion, bloating or nausea. H. pylori is detected with a blood test, breath test or via a stool sample. The authors of the latest study are now calling for greater investment in the prevention of stomach cancer, particularly through population-wide 'screen and treat' programmes for H. pylori. However, Cancer Research UK said stomach cancer rates in the UK have actually been falling – over the last decade, they have dropped 26% and are projected to fall further by 2040. Health information manager at Cancer Research UK, Dr Rachel Orritt, said: 'H. pylori infection increases the risk of stomach cancer, but it's not a common infection in the UK. 'It's also important to note that stomach cancer cases have been decreasing in the UK for decades, and they're expected to continue to fall. 'Although this is an important issue worldwide, in the UK other preventable factors cause more cancer cases. 'Ways to reduce your cancer risk include stopping smoking, keeping a healthy weight, cutting down on alcohol and eating a healthy, balanced diet.' For the Nature Medicine study, scientists examined the incidence of stomach cancer from 185 countries in 2022 and combined it with projections of future deaths. They looked at the potential impact of screen-and-treat strategies for H. pylori and found the number of stomach cancers could be cut by up to 75% overall. Asia accounts for two thirds of projected future cases, with 10.6 million cases (68% of the total), followed by the Americas (2m or 13%), Africa (1.7 million or 11%), Europe (1.2m or 8%), and Oceania (0.07m or 0.4%). Dr Jin Young Park, leader of the gastric cancer prevention team at IARC and co-author of the study, said: 'It is essential that health authorities make gastric cancer prevention a priority and accelerate efforts to control it by planning pilot and feasibility projects, including H. pylori screen-and-treat programmes.' The main symptoms of stomach cancer include heartburn or acid reflux, having problems swallowing, feeling or being sick, indigestion and burping and feeling full very quickly when eating. These symptoms are common and usually caused by other conditions. Other symptoms include loss of appetite or losing weight without trying, stomach pain, a lump feeling at the top of the stomach and feeling very tired.
Euronews
07-07-2025
- Health
- Euronews
A common bacteria could cause 12 million cases of stomach cancer
A common bacteria found in the stomach could cause nearly 12 million cancers among people born over a single decade, a new study suggests. Over the course of their lives, 15.6 million people born between 2008 and 2017 are expected to develop stomach cancer – and 76 per cent may be caused by the Helicobacter pylori bacteria, according to the study published in the journal Nature Medicine. Stomach cancer is largely preventable, but the prognosis is poor once a patient is diagnosed. It is the fifth most common form of cancer worldwide, killing an estimated 770,000 people per year. Chronic infection with H. pylori is a major cause, and it helps explain the rise in stomach cancers among young people in recent years, the study found. Most people are infected with H. pylori as children, and they may be infected for years without knowing it because the infection doesn't cause symptoms. But it can also cause ulcers or inflammation in the stomach lining. The bacteria can spread by mouth, for example kissing, or through contact with vomit or stool. Where stomach cancer cases will rise Researchers from the World Health Organization's (WHO) cancer research agency analysed stomach cancer data from 185 countries in 2022. They projected that under current trends, 11.9 million people could be diagnosed with stomach cancer attributable to H. pylori infection by 2101, which is the year someone born in 2017 would turn 84. The vast majority of bacteria-linked stomach cancer cases – 8 million – are expected in Asia. Another nearly 471,000 cases are projected in the European Union, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland. The burden of stomach cancer is also shifting globally. While sub-Saharan Africa currently has relatively few cases, the researchers expect stomach cancer cases tied to H. pylori to rise to 1.4 million by 2101 – six times higher than the rate in 2022 – due to ageing and population changes. 'With demographic changes set to increase the gastric cancer burden in many parts of the world, there is an urgent need for coordinated prevention strategies and for regional health systems to be prepared to manage the growing burden,' said Dr Jin Young Park, one of the study's co-authors and head of the gastric cancer prevention team at the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The study has some limitations, notably poor data quality in lower-income countries that can make it harder to make confident predictions. But the researchers said the data is clear enough for health authorities around the world to take action. They called for countries to invest in initiatives to screen and quickly treat people for H. pylori infection. Their analysis shows that such programmes could reduce the number of expected stomach cancer cases by up to 75 per cent. 'It is essential that health authorities make gastric cancer prevention a priority and accelerate efforts to control it,' Park said.
