Is there a link between H. pylori and gastric adenocarcinoma in French Guiana?

H. pylori (Helicobacter pylori) is a common bacterium that infects the stomach. It is one of the best-established risk factors for gastric adenocarcinoma, the most common type of stomach cancer ⁶⁸. The question is whether that link also shows up in French Guiana, a French territory in the Amazon region. A 2023 study at Cayenne Hospital found H. pylori in 34.3% of patients whose stomach biopsies were tested, and the authors note that gastric cancer incidence is high in this territory ⁵. So the link between H. pylori and gastric adenocarcinoma is real and well documented in general, and H. pylori infection is common in French Guiana, which fits the pattern seen in other high-risk regions ⁵⁶.

What the research says

The general link between H. pylori and gastric adenocarcinoma is not in doubt. A 1994 review described how H. pylori infection fits into the Correa model of stomach cancer development, where normal stomach tissue moves through chronic gastritis, atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, and dysplasia before becoming cancer ⁶. That review also noted that several prospective studies showed H. pylori infection came before the cancer developed, and that regions with high stomach cancer rates tend to have higher H. pylori prevalence ⁶. A 2025 review confirms this, calling H. pylori an extremely common cause of gastritis that can lead to gastric adenocarcinoma over time ⁸.

What to ask your doctor

• Should I be tested for H. pylori, given how common it is in French Guiana?
• If I test positive for H. pylori, what are my treatment options and how is the infection monitored afterward?
• Does having H. pylori change how often I should have stomach cancer screening or follow-up?
• Are there other risk factors for gastric adenocarcinoma I should know about, such as family history or diet?
• What symptoms should prompt me to come back for evaluation?