Suspected: Heliobacter pylori also causes pancreatic cancer
Heliobacter pylori could be an even bigger "bad guy" than previously thought. Doctors from the University Clinic for Internal Medicine I at the University of Vienna have collected clear evidence that the bacterium not only causes stomach and duodenal ulcers and stomach cancer, but also tumors of the pancreas (pancreatic carcinoma). If true, it would be a real breakthrough in knowledge about this form of cancer. dr Markus Raderer and his co-authors publish their study in the latest issue of Oncology. Raderer comments: “However, this is still a first indication of the involvement of H. pylori in pancreatic carcinoma. With this form of cancer, no one really knew what was there (causal, note.) is going. Our investigation is not yet sufficient as proof, but if the results prove true, that would be extremely interesting.”
Heliobacter pylori lived a completely inconspicuous existence for millions of years until a direct link to recurrent gastric or duodenal ulcers in humans was proven a few years ago. In most patients with these diseases, infection with the germ can be detected. Conversely, most of these ulcers can be healed with antibiotic therapy. Recurrent gastric and duodenal ulcers are also a major risk factor for developing gastric cancer.
The Viennese scientists started with the findings from animal experiments. Raderer: "It was possible to experimentally generate tumors in rats in which Helicobacter pylori was introduced into the bile ducts."
The doctors at the Vienna General Hospital then examined 92 patients with pancreatic carcinoma for an infection with H. pylori. The same happened in 30 people with gastric cancer, 35 people with colon cancer and 27 he althy subjects.
The results:
– 65 percent of pancreatic cancer patients had antibodies to H. pylori in their blood, suggesting infection.
- Also infected at a high rate - 69 percent - were patients with gastric cancer.
– In the remaining subjects (colon cancer or he althy), the infection rate was 45 percent.
The scientists in their study: "Our data indicate a connection between the Helicobacter infection and pancreatic cancer." But this still has to be proven by more extensive scientific studies. If this finding proves true, it would be a real breakthrough in pancreatic cancer research. This malignant disease can hardly be cured because it is almost always recognized too late. However, a Helicobacter pylori infection can now be treated very well. Intensive research is also being carried out into vaccinations worldwide.
