Association Between Vonoprazan and the Risk of Gastric Cancer After Helicobacter pylori Eradication

The central role of gastrin in Helicobacter pylori gastric carcinogenesis

Gastric cancer is still a prevalent and lethal cancer. Gastric hypoacidity and gastritis have long been recognized in the pathogenesis. The identification of Helicobacter(H.) pylori as the main cause of gastritis leading to peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer was a breakthrough. H. pylori was the first bacterium accepted as a carcinogen. The mechanism was not found before H. pylori was shown to predispose to cancer only after having induced oxyntic atrophy incriminating reduced killing of microorganisms and/or secondary hypergastrinemia. H. pylori has an uncertain carcinogenic role in cardia cancer, making microbes more unlikely. Gastrin has a trophic effect on the oxyntic mucosa, particularly on the enterochromaffin like cell carrying the gastrin receptor. Every condition with long-term hypergastrinemia in whatever species predisposes to gastric neoplasia. All observations on gastric neoplasia connected to H. pylori gastritis (the protective effect of duodenal ulcer, increased risk with oxyntic atrophy and preserved risk after loss of H. pylori in complete oxyntic atrophy) may be explained by gastrin. The role of gastrin in gastric carcinogenesis is also reflected by autoimmune gastritis and profound long-term gastric acid inhibition.

Vonoprazan and proton pump inhibitors: Which is superior for Helicobacter pylori eradication?

Helicobacter pylori is a worldwide health problem; therefore, eradicating this bacterium is important for the health and economic status of the whole world. There are a variety of anti-secretory and antibiotic combinations for this purpose; however, antibiotic resistance is a major barrier to achieving an appropriate eradication rate (> 90%). Blockage of gastric acid is the main supportive factor of the antibiotic effect on bacteria. Therefore, anti-secretory therapy with high efficacy and safety profiles should be used in eradication regimens. Vonoprazan (VPZ), a member of the potassium competitive acid blockers, is a novel agent with a potent anti-secretory effect. The present study aimed to summarize comparative and safety studies of VPZ and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), especially the efficacy on Helicobacter pylori eradication. VPZ was reported to have a higher efficacy and safety profile in most studies that compared VPZ-based and PPI-based regimens for eradication therapy. Despite its greater cost, the effectiveness of VPZ emerges as a viable and cost-effective alternative to PPI on gastric acid-related pathologies.

Gastric Cancer Screening in the United States: A Review of Current Evidence, Challenges, and Future Perspectives

Gastric cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. In the United States, gastric cancer incidence and mortality are substantially higher among non-White racial and ethnic groups and new immigrants from high-incidence countries. This is in large part related to the higher prevalence of Helicobacter pylori -associated gastric premalignant changes in these populations. Apart from primary prevention, early detection of gastric cancer is the principal strategy to reduce gastric cancer mortality and improve survival. Extensive evidence in Asian countries has demonstrated the benefits of endoscopic screening in detecting early-stage gastric cancer and reducing gastric cancer-related mortality. By contrast, direct, high-quality US-based data, such as from large clinical trials or observational studies, on important outcomes of gastric cancer screening are still lacking. In this review, we evaluate and summarize the latest global evidence on the epidemiology and predisposing factors of gastric cancer as well as the efficacy, benefits vs. risks, and cost-effectiveness of gastric cancer screening. We further discuss the critical knowledge gaps and challenges in promoting gastric cancer screening in the United States. Dedicated research is urgently needed to enrich the US-based data on gastric cancer primary and secondary prevention to inform clinical practice and reduce gastric cancer-related morbidity and mortality in a cost and resource efficient manner.

Environmental factors in gastric carcinogenesis and preventive intervention strategies

Gastric cancer, a significant global health concern, arises from a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a major risk factor that can be mitigated through eradication strategies. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection causes a distinct subtype of gastric cancer called EBV-associated gastric cancer. The gastric microbiome, a dynamic ecosystem, is also involved in carcinogenesis, particularly dysbiosis and specific bacterial species such as Streptococcus anginosus. Long-term use of proton pump inhibitors and potassium-competitive acid blockers also increases the risk of gastric cancer, whereas non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs including aspirin may have a protective effect. Smoking significantly increases the risk, and cessation can reduce it. Dietary factors such as high intake of salt, processed meats, and red meat may increase the risk, whereas a diet rich in fruits and vegetables may be protective. Extracellular vesicles, which are small membrane-bound structures released by cells, modulate the tumor microenvironment and may serve as biomarkers for risk stratification and as therapeutic targets in gastric cancer. This review highlights the multifaceted etiology of gastric cancer and its risk factors and emphasizes the importance of a multi-pronged approach to prevention including H. pylori eradication and modification of lifestyle factors, as well as the potential of microbiome-based and EV-based interventions. Further research is needed to refine risk stratification and to develop personalized prevention strategies.

Current research status and trends of potassium-competitive acid blockers in the treatment of acid-related diseases: a bibliometric analysis

Objective

To explore the current research status and trends of potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs) in the treatment of acid related diseases (ARDs) using bibliometric analysis.

Materials and methods

We collected publications related to P-CAB in the treatment of acid-related diseases in the Web of Science (WOS) Core Collection from the establishment of the database to 30 June 2024. We evaluated the publication volume and citation status over the years using the WOS platform, and visualized the authors, countries, institutions, keywords, and citations of the publications using CiteSpace and VOSviewer.

Results

This study included a total of 455 articles. The number of publications and citations related to research has been increasing year by year. The results show that the scholars with the highest number of publications mainly come from South Korea and Japan. Scholars such as Geun Seog Song, Bongtae Kim, and Nobuhiro Inatomi produced many works in related fields. The most popular drug in this field was vonoprazan, and research on this drug mainly focused on the effectiveness and safety evaluation of ARDs such as Helicobacter pylori infection, gastroesophageal reflux disease, peptic ulcers, etc. Researchers were concerned about the evaluation of treatment regimens and efficacy comparison between P-CABs and traditional proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in the treatment of ARDs. At the same time, researchers are also closely monitoring the potential adverse reactions and long-term adverse outcomes of clinical application of P-CABs for ARDs.

Conclusion

The clinical application of P-CABs, represented by vonoprazan, in ARDs is receiving widespread attention from researchers. The exploration of the application of this type of drug in ARDs is constantly expanding, and it is a research field with great clinical value and research potential.

Safety of potassium-competitive acid blockers in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease

INTRODUCTION

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the first-line treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, due to their intrinsic limitations, there are still unmet clinical needs that have fostered the development of potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs). Currently, four different drugs (vonoprazan, tegoprazan, fexuprazan, and keverprazan) are marketed in some Asian countries, whereas only vonoprazan and tegoprazan are available in Western countries (USA and Brazil or Mexico, respectively).

AREAS COVERED

This review summarizes the current knowledge on P-CABs acute and long-term safety in GERD treatment compared to that of PPIs. Full-text articles and abstracts were searched in PubMed.

EXPERT OPINION

P-CABs proved to address some of the unmet clinical needs in GERD, with a favorable risk-benefit ratio compared to conventional PPIs. Preclinical and clinical findings have highlighted P-CAB safety to be superimposable, to that of PPIs, in short-term treatments, although further studies are warranted to monitor their effects in long-term therapy. From an epidemiological point of view, the paucity of rigorous data for many variables (e.g. age, ethnicity, drug interactions, comorbidities, genetic polymorphisms, interindividual susceptibility, and gut dysbiosis) deserves a worldwide framework of continuous pre/post-marketing pharmacovigilance programs to reduce potential confounding factors and accurately link acute and chronic P-CAB therapy to adverse outcomes.

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori by a potassium-competitive acid blocker alone?

AIMS

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), the dominating cause of gastric cancer, most often infects children initiating inflammation in the antral part and spreads orally to the oxyntic mucosa. Traditionally, eradication of H. pylori has been based upon a combination of antibiotics together with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) to reduce gastric destruction of the antibiotics. Recently it has been shown that the more efficient inhibitors of acid secretion, the potassium-competitive acid blockers (PCABs) in combination with amoxicillin alone gave highly sufficient H. pylori eradication.

METHODS

To further elucidate the importance of gastric acidity we studied the literature for the connection between gastric acidity and the presence of H. pylori.

RESULTS

It is well-known that H. pylori is dependent of some acidity in the surroundings to neutralize NH3 produced by its urease, explaining the loss of H. pylori in total oxyntic atrophy. With adequate dosing PCABs can induce almost complete anacidity for 24-h which probably is necessary for H. pylori eradication. Even a short period with hypergastrinemia may induce mutations in the target cell of gastrin, the enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cell which may contribute to the relatively short interval between H. pylori eradication and gastric cancer in the users of profound acid inhibitors.

CONCLUSION

The use of PCABs alone dosed sufficiently seems promising for H. pylori eradication, but a combination with a gastrin antagonist would be preferable.

High neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio at Helicobacter pylori eradication increases the risk of eradication failure and post-eradication gastric cancer

INTRODUCTION

Vonoprazan has been known to have a high Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication rate since its launch in 2015. Yet, the risk factors for eradication failure and development of post-eradication gastric cancer (GC) using VPZ regimen remain unclear.

METHODS

This single-center cohort study included 934 consecutive patients who underwent H. pylori eradication using VPZ between February 2015 and June 2017 and were followed up for five years by the end of 2022. We examined several indicators of systemic immune, inflammatory, and nutritional status at the time of eradication to identify those indicators could predict eradication success, risk of post-eradication GC development, and long-term prognosis.

RESULTS

The successful eradication rates were 92.6% (intention-to-treat) and 98.7% (per-protocol). Multivariate analysis showed that only a high peripheral blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was significantly associated with eradication failure. The 5-year GC incidence rate was 1.67%, and all GCs were stage IA. The mean (standard deviation [SD]) time from eradication to diagnosis was 40.5 (6.1) months. Multivariate analysis showed that high NLR and history of GC and hypertension were significantly associated with GC development. Patients with elevated NLR post-eradication had a higher risk of newly developed GC. Twelve patients died during the study period, and a high NLR was associated with a significantly higher mortality rate.

CONCLUSIONS

NLR has the potential to be a biomarker that predicts the failure of eradication and development of post-eradication GC. High NLR was also associated with poor long-term prognosis after H. pylori eradication.

AGA Clinical Practice Update on Integrating Potassium-Competitive Acid Blockers Into Clinical Practice: Expert Review

DESCRIPTION

The purpose of this American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute Clinical Practice Update (CPU) is to summarize the available evidence and offer expert Best Practice Advice on the integration of potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs) in the clinical management of foregut disorders, specifically including gastroesophageal reflux disease, Helicobacter pylori infection, and peptic ulcer disease.

METHODS

This expert review was commissioned and approved by the AGA Institute Governing Board and CPU Committee to provide timely guidance on a topic of high clinical importance to the AGA membership. This CPU expert review underwent internal peer review by the CPU Committee and external peer review through the standard procedures of Gastroenterology. These Best Practice Advice statements were developed based on review of the published literature and expert consensus opinion. Because formal systematic reviews were not performed, these Best Practice Advice statements do not carry formal ratings of the quality of evidence or strength of the presented considerations. Best Practice Advice Statements BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 1: Based on nonclinical factors (including cost, greater obstacles to obtaining medication, and fewer long-term safety data), clinicians should generally not use P-CABs as initial therapy for acid-related conditions in which clinical superiority has not been shown. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 2: Based on current costs in the United States, even modest clinical superiority of P-CABs over double-dose proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) may not make P-CABs cost-effective as first-line therapy. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 3: Clinicians should generally not use P-CABs as first-line therapy for patients with uninvestigated heartburn symptoms or nonerosive reflux disease. Clinicians may use P-CABs in selected patients with documented acid-related reflux who fail therapy with twice-daily PPIs. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 4: Although there is currently insufficient evidence for clinicians to use P-CABs as first-line on-demand therapy for patients with heartburn symptoms who have previously responded to antisecretory therapy, their rapid onset of acid inhibition raises the possibility of their utility in this population. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 5: Clinicians should generally not use P-CABs as first-line therapy in patients with milder erosive esophagitis (EE) (Los Angeles classification of erosive esophagitis grade A/B EE). Clinicians may use P-CABs in selected patients with documented acid-related reflux who fail therapy with twice-daily PPIs. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 6: Clinicians may use P-CABs as a therapeutic option for the healing and maintenance of healing in patients with more severe EE (Los Angeles classification of erosive esophagitis grade C/D EE). However, given the markedly higher costs of the P-CAB presently available in the United States and the lack of randomized comparisons with double-dose PPIs, it is not clear that the benefits in endoscopic outcomes over standard-dose PPIs justify the routine use of P-CABs as first-line therapy. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 7: Clinicians should use P-CABs in place of PPIs in eradication regimens for most patients with H pylori infection. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 8: Clinicians should generally not use P-CABs as first-line therapy in the treatment or prophylaxis of peptic ulcer disease. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 9: Although there is currently insufficient evidence for clinicians to use P-CABs as first-line therapy in patients with bleeding gastroduodenal ulcers and high-risk stigmata, their rapid and potent acid inhibition raises the possibility of their utility in this population.

Spatial Variation of the Gastrointestinal Microbiota in Response to Long-Term Administration of Vonoprazan in Mice With High Risk of Gastric Cancer

BACKGROUND

Vonoprazan, a potassium-competitive acid blocker, is superior to traditional proton pump inhibitor (PPI) in acid suppression and has been approved in the treatment of acid-related disorders. Accumulating evidence suggest associations between PPI use and gut microbiota, yet the effect of vonoprazan on GI microbiota is obscure.

METHODS

Transgenic FVB/N insulin-gastrin (INS-GAS) mice as a model of gastric cancer (GC) were administered vonoprazan by gavage every other day for 12 weeks. Stomachs were evaluated by histopathology, Ki-67 proliferation index, and inflammatory cytokines. The mucosal and lumen microbiota from stomach, jejunum, ileum, cecum, and feces were detected using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

RESULTS

Higher incidence of intestinal metaplasia and epithelial proliferation were observed in the vonoprazan group than that in the control mice. Vonoprazan also elevated the gastric expression of proinflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Each mice comprised a unique microbiota composition that was consistent across different niches. The structure of GI microbiota changed dramatically after vonoprazan treatment with the stomach being the most disturbed segment. Vonoprazan administration shifted the gut microbiota toward the enrichment of pathogenic Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Bilophila, and the loss of commensal Prevotella, Bifidobacterium, and Faecalibacterium. Interestingly, compared to the controls, microbial interactions were weaker in the stomach while stronger in the jejunum of the vonoprazan group.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term vonoprazan treatment promoted gastric lesions in male INS-GAS mice, with the disequilibrium of GI microbiome. The clinical application of vonoprazan needs to be judicious particularly among those with high risk of GC.

Helicobacter pylori Infection in Patients with Gastric Cancer: A 2024 Update

Numerous studies have been performed on Helicobacter pylori infection because of the high death rate linked to this illness and gastric cancer. An update on the key developments in recent years in the investigation of Helicobacter pylori and gastric cancer is the goal of this review. Using the search term "Helicobacter pylori, gastric cancer", the PubMed database was searched. Only papers published in 2024 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Because case report papers were not part of our investigation, they satisfied the exclusion criteria. Most of the research on the variable genes of Helicobacter pylori is guided by genetics to determine potential treatments. Studies on clinical treatments for the eradication of H. pylori with promising therapeutic options are needed. We found the fewest studies related to the immunopathology of H. pylori infection, which is still unknown. In conclusion, priority should be given to this kind of research.

Role of Helicobacter pylori virulence factors and alteration of the Tumor Immune Microenvironment: challenges and opportunities for Cancer Immunotherapy

Various forms of malignancies have been linked to Helicobacter pylori. Despite advancements in chemotherapeutic and surgical approaches, the management of cancer, particularly at advanced stages, increasingly relies on the integration of immunotherapy. As a novel, safe therapeutic modality, immunotherapy harnesses the immune system of the patient to treat cancer, thereby broadening treatment options. However, there is evidence that H. pylori infection may influence the effectiveness of immunotherapy in various types of cancer. This association is related to H. pylori virulence factors and the tumor microenvironment. This review discusses the influence of H. pylori infection on immunotherapy in non-gastrointestinal and gastrointestinal tumors, the mechanisms underlying this relationship, and directions for the development of improved immunotherapy strategies.