During the study, it is planned to detect Helicobacter pylori and eradicate the bacterium in a group of young people aged 30 to 34. Based on the obtained results, the level of participation of the invited individuals will be analyzed, and the effectiveness and side effects of the Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy will be evaluated. The study’s findings will provide essential information for the development and implementation of a gastric cancer screening program in the EU. Experts from the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer will develop recommendations for implementing and evaluating the effectiveness of gastric cancer prevention measures at the European level. The established guidelines and recommendations will help European countries to include these gastric cancer prevention measures in their health care priorities.
“The aim of the project is to develop recommendations for the introduction of gastric cancer screening in EU countries. To achieve this, three large-scale pilot studies are being conducted, with the help of which various aspects of gastric cancer screening and early diagnosis are being developed over a period of 36 months,” said Linda Mežmale, a researcher at UL ICPM.
This type of research is needed because there is currently a lack of effective gastric cancer screening methods in Europe. Current research shows that eradicating Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium that resides in the stomach and promotes the development of gastric cancer, could reduce the number of deaths caused by gastric cancer by as much as 40%. Therefore, it is essential to find ways to implement this prevention strategy in practice.
Cooperation with partners in other countries
In 2023, UL ICPM began managing the TOGAS project. Under the leadership of Latvian scientists, more than 20 partners from 14 European countries are working on guidelines for the implementation of gastric cancer screening and recommendations for evaluating the effectiveness of screening. The pilot study Determination and Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infection in the Population of Young People will be conducted not only in Latvia, but also in other EU countries, including Slovenia, Ireland, Croatia, Poland, and Romania.
The exact methodology for implementing gastric cancer screening in the TOGAS project will be enhanced by the project Accelerating Gastric Cancer Reduction in Europe through Helicobacter pylori Eradication – EUROHELICAN. UL ICPM is collaborating on this with scientists from France and Slovenia. Based on the research results, experts from the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer will develop recommendations for implementing and evaluating the effectiveness of gastric cancer prevention measures at the European level. These established guidelines and recommendations will assist European countries in prioritizing these gastric cancer prevention measures within their healthcare systems. It is expected that these guidelines could later be adapted for use globally.
Gastric cancer is the fifth most common and fourth deadliest cancer in the world. In 2020, approximately one million new cases of gastric cancer were detected, and nearly 800,000 people died. After East Asia, Central and Eastern Europe have the highest incidence rates of gastric cancer in the world.
In these regions, gastric cancer is often detected late, resulting in a significantly lower five-year survival rate – only 19 to 30% of cases. Despite recent advances in cancer therapy, five-year survival rates in most European countries have not significantly improved in recent decades.
Cancer research on a European scale
UL ICPM, established in 2016, has become a leader in cancer research in Latvia and an important participant in cancer research on both European and global scales. The institute is currently involved in several projects supporting the European Union’s Cancer Mission and Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan.
Since 2013, UL ICPM scientists have been conducting GISTAR, a study on the prevention of digestive system tumors, which is supervised by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer, and is the only one of its kind in Europe. Through GISTAR, new options for digestive system cancer screening, early diagnosis, and treatment are being sought and developed.
Additionally, the institute in Latvia coordinates the project “Improving Cancer Care Coordination and Screening in Latvia and Slovakia” (ICCCS). In this project, European and global cancer experts evaluate Latvian cancer care practices and provide recommendations for improvement, along with addressing other health prevention, treatment, and care issues.
The project Joint Action on the New EU Cancer Screening Scheme Implementation (EUCanScreen) is also being implemented under the leadership of UL ICPM. This initiative aims to introduce effective cancer prevention and early diagnosis across all European countries using standardized, evidence-based screening methods, with a focus on reducing inequalities among European nations. UL ICPM is responsible for overseeing the entire project’s successful implementation and managing administrative tasks, as well as being actively involved in all aspects and stages of the project, including analyzing the sustainability of cancer screening programs and developing recommendations.
A total of 29 institutions nominated by national health ministries are partnering in the project, forming a partnership of 97 institutions. In Latvia, the project will be carried out in collaboration with the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control of the Ministry of Health, Riga Stradiņš University, and Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital.
