Abstract
BACKGROUND: Variation in gastric cancer (GC) incidence across different geographic areas persists, even when there are similar prevalence rates of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. An extensive examination of the gastric microbiota in populations from both high- and low-risk regions of GC could help explain the geographical disparities in GC incidence. METHODS: This study enrolled a total of 130 patients with superficial gastritis (SG) and precancerous lesions of gastric cancer (PLGC) from a high-risk area for GC and 205 patients from a low-risk area. Gastric microbial profiling was performed using 16 S rRNA gene sequencing to analyze differences in microbial composition between regions and lesion types. RESULTS: The study revealed significant differences in gastric microbial profiles between patients from high- and low-risk regions, particularly in PLGC patients. PLGC patients from the low-risk region exhibited higher microbial richness than those from the high-risk area, with marked distinctions in microbial community structure between the two regions. Specific differences in microbial composition were observed at the phylum and genus levels between different regions. Six bacterial genera, including Selenomonas and Peptostreptococcus, were identified as enriched in PLGC patients from the high-risk area. Additionally, there was a noticeable imbalance in the microbiota of the gastric mucosal lining during the progression of gastric lesions. CONCLUSION: This comparative analysis highlights the potential impact of the gastric microbiome in the development of GC and suggests that regional differences in microbial profiles may provide clues to the varying incidence rates of GC.