Clinicopathological characteristics of advanced gastric cancer after Helicobacter pylori eradication

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication has become popular as it prevents the development of gastric cancer. There have been no comprehensive studies on advanced gastric cancer (AGC) after eradication; thus, the clinical characteristics remain unclear. This study aimed to compare the characteristics of AGC after eradication and with current H. pylori infection and evaluate the esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) follow‐up after eradication. METHODS: This single‐center, retrospective study included 261 consecutive patients diagnosed with AGC through EGD. The patients were grouped based on their H. pylori status: eradication (n = 48) and infection (n = 213) groups. Univariate analysis was conducted to compare clinicopathological characteristics between groups. The clinical course of the eradication group was analyzed by dividing the patients into three groups according to the interval from the last EGD until AGC detection: short‐interval (<1 year), intermediate‐interval (2–3 years), and long‐interval (4–5 years) groups. RESULTS: The radical resection (R0) rate was higher in the eradication group. In surgical cases, the median tumor diameter was shorter in the eradication group. Analysis of EGD surveillance after eradication in 36 available cases showed that 24 (66.7%) were detected within 5 years after eradication, and 3 (8.3%) were diagnosed as AGC > 20 years after eradication. The R0 rates in the short‐, intermediate‐, and long‐interval groups were 83.3%, 71.4%, and 60%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: AGC after eradication was more often detected at the phase in which R0 resection was possible. EGD follow‐up with tight intervals of at least 5 years after eradication is advisable.