Evaluation of the risk of gastric cancer in patients with chronic gastritis by helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection is recognized as the main etiological factor of chronic gastritis, with potential to evolve for gastric cancer (GC). The diagnosis of gastric disorders can be performed by invasive and non-invasive methods. The objective of this study is to analyze the main methods to predict the risk of developing GC through pre-neoplastic gastric conditions secondary to chronic HP infection. METHODS: Critical review of literature in electronic databases. DISCUSSION: GastroPanel® is a serological kit capable to analyze four biomarkers (gastrin-17, pepsinogen I, pepsinogen II, anti-HP antibodies) through a single blood sample and, therefore, detecting patients at the risk of developing GC when estimating the presence of atrophy associated to HP. Alternatively, EDA is an invasive and costly procedure that requires the collection of gastric biopsies, in order to allow the phenotypic differentiation of gastritis based on the OLGA system, indicating the individual probability of developing neoplasm, particularly in those classified in stages III and IV. CONCLUSIONS: GC is the third cause of death due to neoplasm in the world, especially due to late diagnosis. The non-invasive serological test, if validated locally, would be a screening test in asymptomatic individuals. Those with serologic evidence of gastric atrophy and HP infection would be treated and referred to EDA. Through the histological study, high-risk patients would follow surveillance endoscopy, eventually identifying the GC still in the initial phase and thus reducing the morbidity and mortality of this neoplasm.