Associations of lung cancer risk with biomarkers of Helicobacter pylori infection

Helicobacter pylori infection has been suggested to be associated with lung cancer risk. However, information is lacking on whether the association differs by H. pylori antigen. We conducted a nested case-control study within the Southern Community Cohort Study, including 295 incident lung cancer cases and 295 controls. Helicobacter pylori multiplex serology assay was performed to detect antibodies to 15 H. pylori proteins. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (95% CIs) after adjustment for covariates. Overall H. pylori(+) was associated with a non-statistically significant increased risk of lung cancer (OR: 1.29; 95% CI: 0.85-1.95). Significant associations, however, were observed for H. pylori(+) VacA(+) (OR: 1.64; 95% CI: 1.02-2.62) and H. pylori(+) Catalase(+) (OR: 1.75; 95% CI: 1.11-2.77). The positive association of H. pylori(+) Catalase(+) with lung cancer risk was predominantly seen among African Americans (OR: 2.09; 95% CI: 1.11-3.95) but not European Americans (OR: 1.20; 95% CI: 0.56-2.54). Among participants who smoked >= 30 pack-years, overall H. pylori(+) (OR: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.02-3.35), H. pylori(+) CagA(+) (OR: 2.77; 95% CI: 1.35-5.70), H. pylori(+) VacA(+) (OR: 2.53; 95% CI: 1.25-5.13) and H. pylori(+) HP1564(+) (OR: 2.01; 95% CI: 1.07-3.77) were associated with increased risk of lung cancer. Our study provides novel evidence that associations of H. pylori infection with lung cancer risk differ by H. pylori biomarker, may be more evident among African Americans and may be modified by smoking habits. Furthermore, studies are warranted to confirm our findings. This study investigated the associations of 15 H. pyloribiomarkers with lung cancer risk. Helicobacter pyloriantigen-specific biomarkers were associated with developing lung cancer, and the associations were more evident among African Americans and may be modified by smoking habits.

Automated summary

This study found an association between Helicobacter pylori infection and lung cancer risk, which may be related to specific H. pylori antigens. The association between H. pylori infection and lung cancer risk may be more evident among African Americans and may be modified by smoking habits.