ABSTRACT
Gastric cancer ranks second among the most common causes of cancer death in China. More than 90% of gastric cancer are considered as the ultimate consequence of a longstanding mucosal inflammation. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)infection is the leading etiological cause of gastritis,which may result in atrophy,intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia of the gastric mucosa,and finally the occurrence of gastric cancer (Correa's Cascade of intestinal type of gastric cancer). This well-understood natural history provides the rationale for primary and secondary cancer prevention strategies. A large body of evidence demonstrates that combined strategies of primary (H. pylori eradication) and secondary (endoscopic screening and surveillance)prevention may prevent or limit the progress of gastric oncogenesis. In this article, the importance of primary prevention of gastric cancer is emphasized.