Role of Bacterial and Viral Pathogens in Gastric Carcinogenesis

Simple Summary Stomach cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world, with over one million new cases diagnosed in 2020. Despite recent advances in cancer treatments, gastric cancer remains a serious clinical problem. This disease is tightly linked to gastric infections with Helicobacter pylori bacterium, Epstein-Barr virus, and some other less known pathogens. Here, we discuss how gastric pathogens induce tumorigenic changes in the stomach. Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the deadliest malignancies worldwide. In contrast to many other tumor types, gastric carcinogenesis is tightly linked to infectious events. Infections with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacterium and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) are the two most investigated risk factors for GC. These pathogens infect more than half of the world's population. Fortunately, only a small fraction of infected individuals develops GC, suggesting high complexity of tumorigenic processes in the human stomach. Recent studies suggest that the multifaceted interplay between microbial, environmental, and host genetic factors underlies gastric tumorigenesis. Many aspects of these interactions still remain unclear. In this review, we update on recent discoveries, focusing on the roles of various gastric pathogens and gastric microbiome in tumorigenesis.

Automated summary

Stomach cancer is a common and deadly malignancy worldwide, with infections by Helicobacter pylori and Epstein-Barr virus being major risk factors. The complex interplay between microbial, environmental, and host genetic factors underlies gastric tumorigenesis, with many aspects still unclear. Recent studies focus on the roles of various gastric pathogens and the gastric microbiome in tumorigenesis.