Gabe Mirkin, M.D.
Barry Marshall won the 2005 Nobel Price in Medicine for
proving that stomach ulcers are caused by bacteria called
Helicobacter pylori. Several papers have shown that a type of
stomach cancer called MALT is caused by the same bacteria that
causes stomach ulcers and that many cases of MALT stomach
cancers can be cured by taking antibiotics to kill Helicobacter.
An exciting report from Austria shows that antibiotics can cure
the stomach cancer even though it is not caused by Helicobacter
(Gut, November 18, 2005.) So far, researchers have shown that
more than 25 different bacteria can cause stomach ulcers, and
doctors do not have the ability to test for all of these bacteria.
Doctors cured this case of stomach cancer with metronidazole,
clarithromycin and an antacid. I believe that anyone with
symptoms of stomach distress should be given a trial with the
triple therapy used to treat Helicobacter, even if the tests for
Helicobacter are negative. More information
February 1, 2006