Free screening program in Cluj, to detect infection with Helicobacter pylori, responsible for gastric cancerFree screening program in Cluj, to detect infection with Helicobacter pylori, responsible for gastric cancer

In Cluj-Napoca, for the first time in Romania, a free screening program for the detection of Helicobacter pylori infection, the main cause of gastric cancer, has started.

The project financed by European funds is carried out by Clinica Medicală II, in partnership with the “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy – UMFIH and with family doctors and aims to test at least 1,000 Cluj residents between the ages of 30 and 34.

Free screening program in Cluj, to detect Helicobacter pylori infection, responsible for gastric cancer

The “TOGAS – on the road to gastric screening in the European Union” project aims to help improve the health of the population in Europe, contributing to the objective of the European plan to fight cancer, with the aim of preventing gastric cancers caused by Helicobacter pylori infections.

The main objective of the pilot study within the TOGAS project is to assess the feasibility of the H. pylori test and treat strategy for the prevention of gastric cancer in Europe.

Prof. Dr. Dan Dumitrașcu from Clinica Medicală II, the coordinator of this project in Romania, shows that 4% of cancer patients in Romania die from gastric cancer, one that can be treated.

“There are 4,000 Romanians diagnosed with gastric cancer in a year. So at the European level, the problem has arisen as to how we can detect and prevent this type of cancer in time”, said Prof. Dr. Dan Dumitrașcu, coordinator of the project which is carried out by 21 universities and research centers from the European Union and in which UMFIH it is the only partner Medina university in Romania.

What is Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori is an acid-adapted bacterium that “lives” in the stomach.

Infection with this bacterium favors gastritis, which can lead to gastric cancer.

Prof. Dr. Dan Dumitrașcu stated that the lifestyle favors the appearance of this infection.

“Consumption of food preserved by smoking and salting, but also smoking, are among the main factors. Regarding alcohol consumption, no clear relationship was found with gastric cancer,” he added.

The last study, done in the 2000s, showed that in Romania 60% of the population had H. pylori infection, and the most recent study showed that in Cluj it was 20-30%.

At present, gastric cancer is the fourth cause of cancer death in Romania, but also in the EU.

26 family doctors participate in the program

The Cluj program will benefit from the support of family doctors. According to Prof. Dr. Aida Puia, head of the discipline of family medicine, 26 doctors will participate in this program, including from rural areas.

Family doctors will have an important role, including informing patients, not only about this program, but also about what H. pylori infection means.

Practically, said Prof. Dr. Aida Puia, the family doctors will send to the II Medical Clinic lists of patients who are between 30 and 34 years old, who will then be invited to the screening.

Why people between 30-34 years old?

Dr. Radu Fărcaș from Clinica Medicală II, researcher within the project, stated that through UMFIH, Cluj is running one of the 3 pilot studies in the TOGAS program.

“The study we are doing involves the screening of Helicobacter pylori infection in the population between the ages of 30 and 34, since it is an asymptomatic population.

It is shown that premalignant lesions in asymptomatic infected patients appear around the age of 38-39 years. So we have to see the patients at risk and treat them before these malignant lesions appear”, said Dr. Radu Fărcaș.

Thus, asymptomatic subjects will be invited to the clinic for a serological test, which shows whether the body has ever had contact with the bacteria. This will be a blood test.

Dr. Fărcaș stated that the plan is to include 1,000 asymptomatic patients in this study.

“The invitations will be personalized, for each individual topic.

The family doctors will send us a list of patients chosen by them, and we will send personalized invitations that will also contain a QR code that, if scanned, the subjects will be able to fill out a questionnaire”, explained the doctor.

A disease that can be treated with antibiotics

The appointment for the test will be made by mutual agreement with the patient.

“If the test result is positive, we recall the patient to the hospital for a urea breath test, a non-invasive test to detect active infection.

If this is also positive, antibiotic treatment will be prescribed”, said Dr. Radu Fărcaș.

After the 14-day antibiotic treatment, patients will be recalled to the hospital to see if the infection has been eradicated.

If not, treatment with another antibiotic will be continued. The important thing is that everything will be free.

The study, in which several European countries are involved, benefits from a funding of 10 million euros. In Cluj, the funding amounts to 200,000 euros, of which 150,000 euros are allocated to the study itself.