Lymphoma of the stomach

A British team has achieved encouraging results in the treatment of lymphoma of the stomach with antibiotics to eradicate the germ called Helicobacter pylori, the germ which is frequently found in gastric and duodenal ulcers.

Gastric lymphoma represents only 5% of gastric cancers, but is sometimes more common in some regions, such as the north-east of Italy and the Middle East.

It seems that the Helicobacter pylori by the immune responses it uses, is able to stimulate the growth of gastric lymphoma.

6 patients received treatment with Ampicillin associated with omeprazole. The organism has been eradicated in all cases. In 5 patients, lymphoma disappeared and did not reappear until 10 months after treatment.

These encouraging results, besides the fact that this treatment can be applied as first-line lymphoma of the stomach, suggest that other nodal lymphomas can benefit from this treatment if they are immunologically sensitive.

However, prudence dictates that we wait to see if these results are sustainable.