Anti CagA antibody among patients with non-cardia gastric cancer in comparison with non-ulcer dyspepsia in an area with high incidence of gastric cancer

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the correlation between anti CagA antibody [Ab] and presence of gastric cancer. In a descriptive cross-sectional study during October 2003 to October 2005, in the Gastrointestinal Subspeciality Center in Razi Hospital, Rasht, Iran, we assessed anti-Helicobacter Ab immunoglobulin G [IgG] and anti CagA Ab IgG by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] method in 52 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma and 57 patients with nonulceric dyspepsia [NUD]. Among 52 patients with gastric cancer, anti-Helicobacter pylori Ab was negative in 13 [25%] and positive in 39 persons [75%]. Among 57 patients with NUD, anti-Helicobacter pylori Ab was negative in 5 [8.5%] and positive in 52 patients [91.2%] [p=0.043]. This significant difference did not remain after logistic regression for adjustment of confounders [p=0.068]. The CagA Ab was positive in 22 [42.3%] patients with cancer and 32 [56.1%] of the NUD group. There was no difference in this regard before [p=0.212] and after [p=0.131] logistic regression analysis. Anti CagA Ab does not have a significant value as an independent predictive factor in gastric adenocarcinoma