Researchers hope that by treating the bacterium they can cut the risk of stomach cancer. The scientists will recruit about 56,000 people into the five-year trial that will be conducted throughout Britain. Blood samples from half the group will be screened and if they test positive for the bacteria they will be given antibiotics. Blood from the other half will not be screened and will act as a control group. After 15 years both groups will be followed up to see if they develop cancer.
Stomach cancer is the second most common cancer in the world.
Five-year survival rates are low because of late diagnosis. Experts believe H pylori, which is also linked to ulcers and gastric lymphoma, a blood cancer that develops in the stomach, infects most people during childhood.