Core Insights - Gastric cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, primarily caused by chronic infection with Helicobacter pylori, which is preventable through effective treatment [1][4] - The incidence of gastric cancer is rising among younger populations (under 50 years), and due to aging and population growth, the number of cases and deaths is expected to increase in the coming decades, potentially reversing recent efforts to reduce mortality and incidence rates [2] Summary by Sections - **Global Estimates**: A study published by IARC/WHO in Nature Medicine estimated that among the global population born between 2008-2017, approximately 15.8 million individuals are expected to develop gastric cancer in their lifetime, with 76% (11.9 million cases) attributable to Helicobacter pylori infection [3][8] - **Prevention Strategies**: Most gastric cancers, particularly non-cardia gastric cancer, are caused by chronic Helicobacter pylori infection, which can be prevented through a combination therapy of antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors. A systematic review indicates that treatment can prevent gastric cancer in Helicobacter pylori-positive individuals [4] - **Screening Recommendations**: In 2013, IARC/WHO recommended that countries explore population-based screening and treatment programs for Helicobacter pylori based on local disease burden and cost-effectiveness analyses [5] - **Implementation Challenges**: Despite the high-risk areas, there has been little attempt to implement such population-level projects. The development of a Helicobacter pylori vaccine could be a powerful tool for preventing gastric cancer, but there seems to be a lack of motivation to advance its research [6] - **Future Burden Projections**: The study predicts that without intervention, 15.6 million individuals born between 2008-2017 will be diagnosed with gastric cancer, with 11.9 million cases (76%) linked to Helicobacter pylori infection. It is estimated that 10.6 million new cases (68%) will occur in Asia, with India and China expected to account for 6.5 million cases [8] - **Impact of Interventions**: The research highlights the importance of Helicobacter pylori management in gastric cancer prevention, showing that if screening and treatment interventions are 100% effective, gastric cancer cases could be reduced by up to 75%. Effectiveness rates of 90% and 80% would result in reductions of 67.5% and 60%, respectively [10] - **Call to Action**: The research team calls for increased investment in gastric cancer prevention, particularly through population-wide Helicobacter pylori screening and treatment programs to reduce the global burden of gastric cancer [11]