Prevalence of H. pylori and gastric intestinal metaplasia in BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers

BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers may be at increased risk for gastric cancer (GC), however the mechanisms of gastric carcinogenesis remain poorly understood. We sought to determine the prevalence of GC risk factors Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) among BRCA1/2 carriers to gain insight into the pathogenesis of GC in this population. 100 unselected BRCA1/2 carriers undergoing endoscopic ultrasound from 3/2022-3/2023 underwent concomitant upper endoscopy with non-targeted gastric antrum and body biopsies. The study population (70% women; mean age: 60.1) included 66% BRCA2 carriers. H. pylori was detected in one (1%) individual, 7 (7%) had GIM, 2 (2%) had autoimmune atrophic gastritis, and no GCs were diagnosed. Among BRCA1/2 carriers, H. pylori prevalence was low and GIM prevalence was similar to the general population, however identification of H. pylori or GIM may help inform future GC risk management strategies in BRCA1/2 carriers.