Helicobacter pylori has no influence on distal gastric cancer survival.

CONTEXT There is some evidence that Helicobacter pylori correlates with distal gastric cancer genesis. However, few studies analyzed the survival related to H. pylori infection. OBJECTIVE To correlate gastric cancer survival and H. pylori infection. METHODS Sixty-eight patients with distal gastric cancer that underwent subtotal gastrectomy were studied. Minimal follow-up was 1 month. H. pylori infection was confirmed by biopsy. RESULTS Thirty-four patients (19 males (55.9%), mean age 60.9 ± 14.03, range 33-82 years) were H. pylori positive. Thirty-four patients (16 males (47.1%), mean age 57.9 ± 13.97, range 27-85 years) were H. pylori negative. Groups were comparable in regards to age (P = 0.4), gender (P = 0.5), stage [T (P = 0.2), N (P = 0.6) and M (P = 0.9)]. Survival was not different when groups were compared [P = 0.1616 (hazard ratio 0.6834, 95% CI 0.4009 to 1.1647)]. CONCLUSIONS H. pylori infection does not affect distal gastric cancer survival.