A Review of Helicobacter Pylori and Colon Cancer

......................................... Received: 19-07-13 Accepted: 21-07-14 Abstract Helicobacter pylori are gram-negative bacteria that colonize the gastric epithelia of approximately 50% of the world’s population. This infection is considered to be the leading known cause of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, gastric MALT and gastric cancer. In addition, there is evidence linking the bacteria to several extragastric diseases. The association of extra-gastric diseases with colon cancer and other colonic neoplasms has been the subject of much debate since it was first suggested. Although some studies have cast doubt on this association, others have sustained it. These include a recent meta-analysis and cross-sectional study of more than 150,000 patients which is the largest on this subject so far. In addition, there are numerous articles that support the biological plausibility of this association. In this article we review the available evidence regarding this association and the mechanisms of causality that have been proposed.