Pattern and trends of genotypes in gastric cancer: A Kenyan 8-year study.

BACKGROUND

Notable geographic and temporal variations in the prevalence and genotypes of , in relation to gastric pathologies, have been observed; however, their significance and trends in African populations is scarcely described. The aim of this study, was to investigate the association of and its respective and vacuolating cytotoxin A () genotypes with gastric adenocarcinoma, and to describe the trends of genotypes over an 8-year period (2012-2019).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 286 samples of gastric cancer cases and benign controls (one-to-one matching), from three main cities in Kenya, between 2012 and 2019 were included. Histologic evaluation, and and genotyping using PCR, was performed. Distribution of genotypes was presented in proportions. To determine association, a univariate analysis was conducted using a Wilcoxon rank sum test for continuous variables, and a Chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test for categorical data.

RESULTS

The genotype was associated with gastric adenocarcinoma, {odds ratio (OR) = 2.68 [confidence interval (CI) of 95%: 0.83-8.65]; = 0.108}, whilst was associated with a reduced probability of gastric adenocarcinoma [OR = 0.23 (CI 95%: 0.07-0.78); = 0.031]. No association between cytotoxin associated gene A () and gastric adenocarcinoma was observed.

CONCLUSION

Over the study period, an increase in all genotypes of was seen, and although no predominant genotype was noted, there was significant year-to-year variation, with and showing the greatest variation. and were associated with increased, and reduced risk of gastric cancer, respectively. Intestinal metaplasia and atrophic gastritis did not appear to be significant in this population.