From discovery of Helicobacter pylori to Nobel Prize for classic medical detective work

Abstract

Cancer remains one of the greatest challenges facing global public health. It is predicted that its number will continue to increase and will reach 35 million new cases in 2050, compared to about 20 million in 2022. Among the most common types of cancer are those of the lung, breast, colon, prostate and stomach, with stomach cancer ranking fifth in terms of morbidity and mortality. A major risk factor for it is infection with Helicobacter pylori – a bacterium, which increases the risk of developing the disease sixfold and is associated with nearly 90% of cases. The discovery of Helicobacter pylori was the work of Australian scientists Barry James Marshall and John Robin Warren, who worked at the Royal Perth Hospital. Their discovery, initially rejected, fundamentally changed the understanding of gastritis and peptic ulcer, which until then were mainly associated with stress and dietary factors. In 2005, they received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for proving the bacterial etiology of these diseases. The breakthrough came when Marshall infected himself with Helicobacter pylori to confirm the causal relationship. The work of these two scientists changed the medical paradigm for peptic ulcer disease, leading to the development of new therapeutic approaches and prevention. This discovery has enormous public and health significance, as it confirms the role of bacterial infection in chronic diseases and cancer processes. Inspired by their work, other research teams continue intensive studies in this direction.