A Case Control Study of the Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori Proteins and Their Association with Pancreatic Cancer Risk

Background: The association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and pancreatic cancer (PC) risk remains inconclusive. We examined the association between H. pylori antibodies and PC risk in a case-control study at a comprehensive cancer center. Methods: Multiplex serology using a glutathione S-transferase capture immunosorbent assay in conjunction with fluorescent bead technology was used to measure antibodies to 15 H. pylori proteins in serum or plasma from 131 incident cases with PC or a PC precursor and 131 healthy controls. Reactivity to >= 4 H. pylori proteins was defined as the overall seroprevalence. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), with adjustment for age at diagnosis/interview, gender, and race. Results: The majority of the sample was 50 years or older, and from the white race group. Half of the sample were women. Seroprevalence >= 4 of H. pylori proteins was 11.1%. Overall, H. pylori seroprevalence was not associated with PC risk (OR: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.25-1.40). The prevalence of several H. pylori-specific proteins HP537 (OR: 1.78; 95% CI: 0.30-10.51), HP305 (OR: 1.38; 95% CI: 0.61-3.16), and HP410 (OR: 1.31; 95% CI: 0.44-3.96) increased the odds of PC. Similarly, H. pylori-specific proteins HP522 (OR: 0.25; 95% CI: 0.04-1.66), HyuA (OR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.21-1.14), and HP1564 (OR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.27-1.51) decreased the odds of PC. However, these findings were not statistically significant at alpha = 0.05. Conclusions: Our findings do not support an association between H. pylori and PC risk. Further evaluation of this lack of association is recommended.