The prevalence of H. pylori infection increases with age and exhibits geographic variation in Japan. There has been a striking decrease in the prevalence of H. pylori infection, especially in younger Japanese populations.

The Japan Cancer Surveillance Research Group estimated the cancer incidence in 2005 as part of the Monitoring of Cancer Incidence in Japan (MCIJ) project, on the basis of data collected from 12 of 30 population-based cancer registries. The total number of incidences in Japan for 2005 was estimated as 646,802 (C00-C96). The leading cancer site was the stomach for men and the breast for women. Age-standardized incidence rates remained almost the same level as the previous 2 years.

No dramatic increase in adenocarcinoma has occurred, and absolute incidence remains low in Japan.

AIM:To investigate the effects of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori ) eradication therapy for treatment of peptic ulcer on the incidence of gastric cancer.

A comparative evaluation was made between the efficacy of endoscopic treatment in 116 cases with that of surgical treatment in 59 cases. Both groups were treated at Yamagata Prefectural Central Hospital during a period from July 1978 up until December 1989. All of the patients had single mucosal adenocarcinoma of a well differentiated type which were not accompanied by ulcer or ulcerative scar with their maximum diameter of foci being less than 20mm. A curve of the survival rate of both groups as of June 30, 1990 was prepared using the Kaplan-Meier method, and significance in the statistic difference between the two groups was examined using the logrank test. There was no significant difference noted in the results of both groups. This demonstrated that endoscopic treatment can bring about a long-term prognosis which is comparable to that of surgical treatment. (Dig Endosc 1994 ; 6 : 241 -247)