Helicobacter pylori and Cancer - National Cancer Institute

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Helicobacter pylori and Cancer - National Cancer Institute

Helicobacter pylori and Cancer

Key Points

• Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a type of bacterium that is found in the stomach of about two-thirds of the world’s population.
• H. pylori infection is a major cause of gastric (stomach) cancer, specifically non-cardia gastric cancer (cancer in all areas of the stomach, except for the top portion near where it joins the esophagus). H. pylori infection also causes gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma.
• H. pylori infection is associated with a decreased risk of some other cancers, including gastric cardia cancer (cancer in the top portion of the stomach) and esophageal adenocarcinoma.