OBJECTIVETo determine the influence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) on gastric cancer-related antigen MG7 expression.

METHODSThe H. pylori infection and the expression level of antigen MG7 in gastric mucosa were determined by HE stain, PCR, ELISA and immunohistochemistry in 291 patients with H. pylori-related conditions, among whom 34 were followed-up.

RESULTSNo significant difference was found between H. pylori-negative and H. pylori-positive intestinal metaplasia, atrophic gastritis and dysplasia of gastric epithelium in positive rate of antigen MG7 expression. There was significant difference between H. pylori-negative and H. pylori-positive superficial gastritis in the positive rate of MG7 expression (P < 0.05). During follow-up, one of 3 H. pylori-negative cases turned to be H. pylori-positive, and its MG7 expression turned to be higher at the same time. Three of 31 H. pylori-positive patients were discovered as having early gastric cancer, among whom one with antigen MG7 expression (+ + +) was found to have a reduced Mg7 expression accompanied with H. pylori eliminutied after operation.

CONCLUSIONThere is correlationship between H. pylori infection and MG7 expression in superficial gastritis. Although the MG7-positive lesions with H. pylori infection shows a benign nature in morphology, they also have the potential risk of developing into gastric cancer. Therefore, they should be followed up, during which special attention should be paid to patients with increased MG7 expression.