[Eradication model employing Mongolian gerbils treated with chemical carcinogen and infected with Helicobacter pylori--implications for human cancer prevention].

To explore the 'causal link' between Helicobacter pylori(Hp) infection and stomach carcinogenesis, we have established experimental models of stomach carcinogenesis in Mongolian Gerbils(MGs) using the chemical carcinogen, N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine(MNNG) and N-methyl-N-nitrosourea(MNU). The incidence of adenocarcinoma was significantly higher in animals treated with Hp than in the controls. Eradication of Hp was effective in reducing the incidence of adenocarcinoma. No gastric carcinoma was found without any chemical carcinogen. Hp infection enhances glandular stomach carcinogenesis not only of well-differentiated type but also poorly differentiated type and signet ring cell type. Eradication of Hp, apparently a gastric promoter rather than gastric carcinogen, may be useful as a measure for prevention of stomach cancer.