Serum TNF-α and IL-8 as predictors of gastric mucosal cancerization in Helicobacter pylori -positive gastritis

Abstract Background Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection is a well-established risk factor for gastric carcinogenesis, primarily through the induction and maintenance of chronic gastric mucosal inflammation. In this study, we aimed to explore the correlations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels with the risk of gastric mucosal cancerization in patients with HP-positive gastritis. Methods Subjects (200 in total) in this retrospective study were enrolled from patients with HP-positive gastritis treated from January 2022 to December 2024. A non-cancer group (n=80, patients with chronic superficial gastritis and atrophic gastritis) and a cancer group (n=120, patients with gastric cancer) were set based on the condition of mucosal lesions. Measurement of serum TNF-α and IL-8 levels was completed through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The 14C-urea breath test was conducted to determine the status of HP infection. Multivariate regression analysis was employed to identify the influencing factors of gastric mucosal cancerization risk. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was also conducted. Results The serum TNF-α and IL-8 levels were significantly higher in the cancer group than in the non-cancer group ( p