Antibiotics could keep stomach cancer at bay

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 15 Jan 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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CHICAGO (USA)- A study finds antibiotics can help prevent stomach cancer in people who carry a strain of bacteria known to cause ulcers.

The Chinese study adds to strong evidence that Helicobacter pylori bacteria can cause stomach cancer.

Among 988 patients without precancerous lesions at the outset of the study, none on the treatment got stomach cancer. In a comparison group that got a medically valueless preparation, six people got stomach cancer.

The study is published in Wednesday's issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The findings among those with precancerous lesions were not as clear-cut. Seven in the treatment group developed stomach cancer, vs. 11 in the placebo group. Experts say the findings do not solve the dilemma of whether and how to treat carriers of the bacteria.

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