Plasma Pepsinogens and Gastric Cancer Risk
Author Information
Author(s): Abnet C C, Zheng W, Ye W, Kamangar F, Ji B-T, Persson C, Yang G, Li H-L, Rothman N, Shu X-O, Gao Y-T, Chow W-H
Primary Institution: National Cancer Institute
Hypothesis
Is there an association between plasma pepsinogens, antibodies against Helicobacter pylori, and the risk of gastric cancer?
Conclusion
Lower plasma PG1:2 ratios are associated with a higher risk of gastric cancer.
Supporting Evidence
- Gastric cancer subjects were more likely to be anti-H. pylori positive than controls, 97 vs 92%.
- A plasma pepsinogen 1 concentration <50 ng/ml was associated with a significantly increased risk of gastric cancer.
- A plasma pepsinogen 2 concentration >6.6 ng/ml was also associated with a significantly increased risk of gastric cancer.
- The PG1:2 ratio had a nearly linear association with gastric cancer risk.
Takeaway
This study found that lower levels of certain proteins in the blood can mean a higher chance of getting stomach cancer.
Methodology
A case-control study nested in a prospective cohort with 141 gastric cancer cases and 282 matched controls, measuring plasma concentrations of pepsinogens and H. pylori antibodies.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the study being limited to women, which may not be applicable to men.
Limitations
The sample size was modest, limiting analysis by gastric cancer subsites and H. pylori subtypes.
Participant Demographics
Women aged 40-70 years from urban communities in Shanghai, China.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 1.86–9.63 for PG1 <50 ng/ml
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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