Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignancies and a leading cause of mortality worldwide, mainly caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).

A PubMed literature search was performed to obtain relevant publications associated with gastric precancerous conditions or lesions and H. pylori, published between April 2023 and March 2024. Articles that were considered the most pertinent to the topic were selected.

One meta-analysis confirmed that H. pylori eradication reverses atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia. One double-blind, randomized, folic acid-controlled trial confirmed that Moluodan, a patented Chinese traditional medicine that suppresses the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, reverses low-grade dysplasia in H. pylori-negative patients.

One multicenter, case-control study confirmed that individuals with advanced stages of atrophy, according to the histologic Operative Link on Gastritis Assessment staging system, are at higher risk of cancer and two review articles provided further evidence regarding the relation between gastric intestinal metaplasia and cancer, further supporting the knowledge that individuals with extensive or incomplete intestinal metaplasia are at higher risk of gastric cancer, including those with spasmolytic polypeptide-expressing metaplasia (SPEM). One cross-sectional study confirmed that individuals with advanced stages of atrophy, according to the endoscopic Kyoto and Kimura-Takemoto classifications, are at higher risk of cancer, while another study further supports the need for an incisura biopsy for gastric cancer risk assessment.

Two studies provided further insights regarding the relation between dynamic tuft cell expansion, gastric precancerous conditions, and dysplasia and between gastric cancer and gastric diffuse large B-cell or mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas.

Finally, a new review article about gastric cancer in Western countries updates the data supporting primary prevention by H. pylori eradication, but also secondary prevention by endoscopic surveillance of precancerous conditions or endoscopic screening when combined with a colonoscopy performed for colorectal screening.