Infection Based Gastric Cancer

Abstract

Gastric cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in the world. Helicobacter pylori is currently the strongest known risk factor for this disease and is classified as a type I carcinogen by the World Health Organization. Many factors play a role in the progression towards gastric cancer including, but not limited to, bacterial virulence factors, host genetics, diet, and the gastric microbiota. The stomach, once thought to be a sterile environment, is now known to host a rich microbiota, which is unique to each individual. A complex interplay exists between H. pylori and the gastric microbiota which may one day become a target for personalized medicine to attenuate the progression towards gastric cancer. In this chapter, we discuss how the infectious bacterium, H. pylori, interacts with its host to augment the risk of developing gastric cancer.