Helicobacter pylori and Gastric Cancer: Peptide-Based New Therapeutic Strategies

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the most important pathogens with the ability to persist for decades in the stomach; and it is considered as the most common agent for gastric cancer. The development of disease depends on factors such as strain-specific bacterial constituents, host susceptibility and environmental cofactors. Eradication of H. pylori can not only remarkably reduce the risk of relapse of peptic ulcers but also decrease the risk of gastric cancer in infected individuals with no severe injury or malignant tumor. In most cases, the gastric MALT lymphoma can be completely treated by the eradication of H. pylori infection.

The use of anti-H. pylori or anti-cancer therapeutic peptides, may be an effective strategy for the prevention of gastric cancer. Therefore, this review was aimed to assess literature regarding H. pylori virulence factors associated with gastric cancer as well as new therapeutic methods based on peptides.