Contribution of H. pylori and Smoking Trends to US Incidence of Intestinal-Type Noncardia Gastric Adenocarcinoma: A Microsimulation Model

Jennifer Yeh and colleagues examine the contribution of IHelicobacter pyloriI and smoking trends to the incidence of past and future intestinal-type noncardia gastric adenocarcinoma.

Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary

Abstract

Background

Although gastric cancer has declined dramatically in the US, the disease remains the second leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. A better understanding of reasons for the decline can provide important insights into effective preventive strategies. We sought to estimate the contribution of risk factor trends on past and future intestinal-type noncardia gastric adenocarcinoma (NCGA) incidence.

Methods and Findings

We developed a population-based microsimulation model of intestinal-type NCGA and calibrated it to US epidemiologic data on precancerous lesions and cancer. The model explicitly incorporated the impact of Helicobacter pylori and smoking on disease natural history, for which birth cohort-specific trends were derived from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Between 1978 and 2008, the model estimated that intestinal-type NCGA incidence declined 60% from 11.0 to 4.4 per 100,000 men, <3% discrepancy from national statistics. H. pylori and smoking trends combined accounted for 47% (range = 30%–58%) of the observed decline. With no tobacco control, incidence would have declined only 56%, suggesting that lower smoking initiation and higher cessation rates observed after the 1960s accelerated the relative decline in cancer incidence by 7% (range = 0%–21%). With continued risk factor trends, incidence is projected to decline an additional 47% between 2008 and 2040, the majority of which will be attributable to H. pylori and smoking (81%; range = 61%–100%). Limitations include assuming all other risk factors influenced gastric carcinogenesis as one factor and restricting the analysis to men.

Conclusions

Trends in modifiable risk factors explain a significant proportion of the decline of intestinal-type NCGA incidence in the US, and are projected to continue. Although past tobacco control efforts have hastened the decline, full benefits will take decades to be realized, and further discouragement of smoking and reduction of H. pylori should be priorities for gastric cancer control efforts.

Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary

Editors' Summary

Background

Cancer of the stomach (gastric cancer) is responsible for a tenth of all cancer deaths world-wide, with an estimated 700,000 people dying from this malignancy every year, making it the second most common cause of global cancer-related deaths after lung cancer. Unfortunately, the projected global burden of this disease estimate that deaths from gastric cancer will double by 2030. Gastric cancer has a poor prognosis with only a quarter of people with this type of cancer surviving more than five years. In order to reduce deaths, it is therefore of utmost importance to identify and reduce the modifiable risk factors associated with gastric cancer. Smoking and chronic gastric infection with the bacteria Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), are known to be two common modifiable risk factors for gastric cancer, particularly for a type of gastric cancer called intestinal-type noncardia gastric adenocarcinoma (NCGA), which occurs at the distal end of the stomach and accounts for more than half of all cases of gastric cancer in US men.

Why Was This Study Done?

H. pylori initiates a precancerous process, and so infection with this bacteria can increase intestinal-type NCGA risk by as much as 6-fold while smoking doubles cancer risk by advancing increasing progression of existing lesions. Changes in these two risk factors over the past century (especially following the US Surgeon General's Report on Smoking and Health in 1964) have led to a dramatic decline in the rates of gastric cancer in US men. Understanding the combined effects of underlying risk factor trends on health outcomes for intestinal-type NCGA at the population level can help to predict future cancer trends and burden in the US. So in this study, the researchers used a mathematical model to estimate the contribution of H. pylori and smoking trends on the decline in intestinal-type NCGA incidence in US men.

What Did the Researchers Do and Find?

The researchers used birth cohorts derived from data in two national databases, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) to develop a population-based model of intestinal-type NCGA. To ensure model predictions were consistent with epidemiologic data, the researchers calibrated the model to data on cancer and precancerous lesions and using the model, projected population outcomes between 1978 and 2040 for a base-case scenario (in which all risk factor trends were allowed to vary over time). The researchers then evaluated alternative risk factors scenarios to provide insights on the potential benefit of past and future efforts to control gastric cancer.

Using these methods, the researchers estimated that the incidence of intestinal-type NCGA (standardized by age) fell from 11.0 to 4.4 per 100,000 men between 1978 and 2008, a drop of 60%. When the researchers incorporated only H. pylori prevalence and smoking trends into the model (both of which fell dramatically over the time period) they found that intestinal-type NCGA incidence fell by only 28% (from 12.7 to 9.2 per 100,000 men), suggesting that H. pylori and smoking trends are responsible for 47% of the observed decline. The researchers found that H. pylori trends alone were responsible for 43% of the decrease in cancer but smoking trends were responsible for only a 3% drop. The researchers also found evidence that after the 1960s, observed trends in lower smoking initiation and higher cessation accelerated the decline in intestinal-type NCGA incidence by 7%. Finally, the researchers found that intestinal-type NCGA incidence is projected to decline an additional 47% between 2008 and 2040 (4.4 to 2.3 per 100,000 men) with H. pylori and smoking trends accounting for more than 80% of the observed fall.

What Do These Findings Mean?

These findings suggest that, combined with a fall in smoking rates, almost half of the observed fall in rates of intestinal-type NCGA cancer in US men between 1978 and 2008 was attributable to the decline in infection rates of H. pylori. Rates for this cancer are projected to continue to fall by 2040, with trends for both H. pylori infection and smoking accounting for more than 80% of the observed fall, highlighting the importance of the relationship between risk factors changes over time and achieving long-term reduction in cancer rates. This study is limited by the assumptions made in the model and in that it only examined one type of gastric cancer and excluded women. Nevertheless, this modeling study highlights that continued efforts to reduce rates of smoking and H. pylori infection will help to reduce rates of gastric cancer.

Additional Information

Please access these Web sites via the online version of this summary at http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001451.

• The National Cancer Institute gives detailed information about gastric cancer

• The Gastric Cancer Foundation has information on gastric cancer for patients and professionals

• Cancer Research UK explains types of gastric cancer

Introduction

Gastric cancer (GC) is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, responsible for an estimated 700,000 deaths each year (10.4% of all cancer deaths) [1]. Based on current age-specific rates of GC and projected demographic changes, the annual number of expected deaths worldwide will increase to 1.4 million in 2030. Once diagnosed, the prognosis and treatment options are poor, with less than 27% surviving more than 5 y [2]. Reducing GC incidence through modification of risk factors may therefore be the most effective way to reduce GC mortality.

In the US, GC was the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men in the early 1900s. While it has fallen dramatically since then, the precise reasons for the “unplanned triumph” are not well-established [3], though broadly attributed to improvements in living conditions and availability of refrigeration. The decline has been more pronounced for noncardia cancers, in particular intestinal-type tumors for which H. pylori infection is the leading risk factor [4]. Recent evidence suggests that cardia cancers may be increasing in frequency [5],[6]. Although histologic subtypes are sometimes difficult to distinguish, these trends in cancer incidence may suggest possible differences in tumor biology.

Intestinal-type noncardia gastric adenocarcinoma (NCGA), which accounts for over 50% of all GC cases in the US [7], develops through a series of relatively well-defined histological steps over several decades [8], and the influence of H. pylori and smoking influence on the carcinogenesis process have been well-described by epidemiologic studies [9]–[14]. By initiating the precancerous process, H. pylori infection increases intestinal-type NCGA risk by as much as 6-fold [10], while smoking elevates cancer risk by 2-fold by increasing progression risk of existing lesions to more advanced lesions [15]. As intestinal-type NCGA incidence has fallen over the past century, prevalence of both risk factors has also drastically changed. Only 33% of adults are currently infected with H. pylori [16], and after peaking to more than 50% in the 1955, smoking rates have declined to 20% since the 1964 publication of the first US Surgeon General's Report on Smoking and Health [17]–[19]. Other risk factors, including genetic factors and diet (e.g., low intake of fresh fruits and vegetables and/or high salt intake), are also important, although their effects on the gastric carcinogenesis are less well-understood.

Understanding the combined effects of underlying risk factor trends on population-level intestinal-type NCGA outcomes can help to predict future cancer trends and burden in the US and globally. While data on H. pylori prevalence and smoking rates in the US are available from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) [16] and National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) [18], these databases do not contain information on GC. Similarly, the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program provides estimates of population-based cancer incidence, but lacks data on risk factors.

We employ a mathematical modeling framework capable of integrating available epidemiologic, clinical, and demographic data to understand the effect of risk factor trends on past and future population-level intestinal-type NCGA incidence rates among US men. Specifically, we aim to estimate the contribution of H. pylori and smoking trends on the decline in cancer incidence and explore the magnitude by which anti-smoking campaigns following the US Surgeon General's 1964 Report on Smoking and Health accelerated the decline.

Methods

Overview

We developed a population-based microsimulation model of intestinal-type NCGA to estimate the impact of observed risk factor trends on past and future cancer incidence for US men (Figure 1). We focused on this subset of GCs, defined by criteria proposed and used by Lauren [20], Henson et al., [21], and Wu et al. [22], as the precancerous process and role of risk factors for this histologically distinct subgroup of distally located tumors has been well-established. The model explicitly incorporated the impact of H. pylori and smoking on disease natural history. To accomplish this, birth cohort trends were derived from NHANES and NHIS data, and the model was calibrated to US data on precancerous lesions and cancer to ensure model predictions were consistent with epidemiologic data. Using the model, we projected population-based intestinal-type NCGA outcomes between 1978 and 2040 in which all risk factor trends were allowed to vary over time (base-case scenario). We then used the model to evaluate alternative risk factor scenarios to provide insights on the potential benefit of past and future GC control efforts.

Figure 1. Overview of model-based approach.

This figure depicts the three components of our trend analysis: (1) development of a population-based intestinal-type NCGA microsimulation model, which explicitly incorporates birth cohort-specific risk factor trends, background mortality rates, and population size, and identifies natural history progression rates via model calibration to US epidemiologic data; (2) projection of intestinal-type NCGA outcomes between 2008 and 2040 for the base case (all risk factor trends) using a subset of 50 randomly selected good-fitting parameter sets (identified via model calibration); and (3) estimation of intestinal-type NCGA outcomes under alternative risk factor or tobacco control scenarios for insights on GC control.

Intestinal-Type NCGA Natural History Microsimulation Model

To allow for greater flexibility in capturing multiple dimensions of heterogeneity, we refined a previously described intestinal-type NCGA natural history model [23] to function as a microsimulation model that simulates individuals within multiple 5-y birth cohorts (born between 1881 and 2025) to generate population-based cancer outcomes for men between 1978 and 2040. In the model, intestinal-type NCGA develops through a series of precancerous lesions, which may progress to dysplasia and eventually invasive cancer (Figure 2). At the start of the simulation, 20-y-old individuals are assigned a birth cohort-specific risk factor profile and enter the model. Each month, using rates derived via previously described model calibration methods (see Table 1 and Text S1) [23], individuals face a risk of progression among the health states. On the basis of epidemiologic studies, we assumed that in addition to causing gastritis, H. pylori increases the risk of atrophy [9], while smoking increases the risk of progression to intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia [11],[12].

Figure 2. Intestinal-type NCGA model diagram.

Intestinal-type NCGA develops through a series of precancerous health states as depicted. Each month, individuals face a risk of progression among the health states. Before invasive cancer develops, individuals can also regress to less advanced precancerous lesions. Individuals with preclinical (asymptomatic) cancer can remain asymptomatic or progress to symptomatic clinical cancer. Once individuals develop symptomatic cancer, they are assumed to receive treatment and do not progress to more advanced cancer states. All probabilities are constant, except for the age-specific transition from dysplasia to preclinical cancer.

Table 1. Intestinal-type NCGA model parameter values.

Parametera	Range Identified Via Model Calibration
Natural history
Gastritis to atrophy	0.0001
Atrophy to intestinal metaplasia	0.0048–0.0200
Intestinal metaplasia to dysplasia	0.0005–0.0010
Dysplasia to preclinical cancer
Age 20–29	0.000000–0.000005
Age 30–39	0.000000–0.000009
Age 40–49	0.000004–0.00003
Age 50–59	0.0002–0.0003
Age 60–69	0.0004–0.0008
Age 70–79	0.0007–0.0018
Age 80–89	0.0011–0.0034
Age 90+	0.0016–0.0066
Preclinical to clinical cancer	0.0410–0.0830
Dysplasia to intestinal metaplasia	0.0051–0.0090
Intestinal metaplasia to atrophy	0.0001–0.0086
Atrophy to gastritis	0.0005–0.0099
Clinical cancer detection
Local	0.006–0.014
Regional	0.024–0.056
Distant	0.034–0.400
Risk factors on disease progression (relative risk)
H. pylori
Gastritis to atrophy	16.1–41.3
Smoking
Atrophy to intestinal metaplasiab
<20 cigarettes per day	1.1–3.7
≥20 cigarettes per day	3.6–17.0
Former smoker	1.1–3.7
Intestinal metaplasia to dysplasiab
<10 cigarettes per day	1.0–2.6
≥10 cigarettes per day	2.1–2.8
Former smoker	1.0–2.6
All other risk factors
Gastritis to atrophyc	0.039–0.098

^aMonthly probabilities unless otherwise noted.

^bRelative to non-smokers (RR = 1).

^cConstant exponential rate (r) of decline per birth cohort as described in the following equation: (1−r)∧t, where t = year of birth − 1901.

For each individual, we assigned H. pylori status at age 20 based on NHANES data (Figure 3). As H. pylori infection is acquired in childhood and persists unless treated with antibiotics [24],[25], we assumed that an individual's status remained unchanged throughout their lifetime. Smoking profiles for each individual, including initiation and cessation age, were derived from the NHIS-based Smoking History Generator (SHG) developed by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network (CISNET) (Figure 3) [26],[27]. As the impact of smoking on disease progression varies by intensity [11],[12], we categorized smokers into four subgroups: low (<10 cigarettes per day [CPD]), moderate (10–19 CPD), heavy (≥20 CPD), and former smokers. The effect of smoking cessation on disease progression was also assumed to be immediate upon quitting, with progression rates declining and remaining at former smoker levels.

Figure 3. Birth cohort risk factor profiles.

(A) H. pylori prevalence at age 20 for birth cohorts between 1881 and 2020 based on NHANES III and Continuous NHANES (1999–2000) data. For pre-1900 and post-1980 birth cohorts for which data were unavailable, we extrapolated the observed 7.1% rate of decline between successive 5-y birth cohorts between the 1901–1905 and 1976–1980. (B) The proportion of current smokers by 5-y birth cohorts between 1891 and 2020 (starting at age 20). For birth cohorts born after 1983 (and cohorts with individuals still alive past calendar year 2000) for which data from the NHIS-based Smoking History Generator were unavailable, we extrapolated observed trends and extended profiles until all individuals either died or reached 100 y of age. Specifically, for post-1983 birth cohorts, we assumed that smoking rates peaked at age 20, initiation rates declined by 5.7% every 5 birth cohort years, and the annual risk of cessation remained constant at 2% [54],[55].

Given the multifactorial etiology of intestinal-type NCGA, factors other than H. pylori and smoking have contributed to the observed decline in cancer incidence. As such, we allowed birth cohort-specific disease risk to vary over time, an approach commonly used in population-based microsimulation models [28]. Specifically, as multi-stage models of gastric carcinogenesis suggest exposures early on are likely responsible for incidence declines among successive birth cohorts [3],[8],[29], we operationalized the “all other risk factors” effect as a constant exponential rate of decline on the risk of developing atrophy beginning with the 1901 birth cohort.

To reflect changes in all-cause background mortality, we used birth cohort-specific life tables obtained from the Berkeley Mortality Database (http://www.demog.berkeley.edu/~bmd/) and US Social Security Administration [30], and adjusted for smoking intensity using relative risk estimates from the American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Study II (CPS-II) (see Text S1) [31].

Model Outcomes and Uncertainty Analysis

Model outcomes included age-standardized incidence, number of annual cases, and number of total cases for intestinal-type NCGA. For age-standardized cancer incidence, we used the US 2000 standard population for comparability to SEER estimates (assuming cancer risk among individuals less than 20 y old was negligible) [32]. For annual number of cases, we incorporated population size estimates from the US Census Bureau into the model to reflect the impact of population growth and ageing on cancer cases [33]. The model also projected the prevalence of precancerous lesions among individuals 20 y and older.

To reflect the impact of disease natural history uncertainty on modeled outcomes, using previously described calibration methods [23], we identified multiple parameter sets that fit equally well to epidemiologic data on age-specific precancerous lesions prevalence [34] and GC incidence [7]. Among the good-fitting parameter sets identified, we randomly selected a subset of 50 parameter sets for this analysis and report the mean and range (minimum, maximum) for all model outcomes. See Text S1 for additional details on model development and calibration.

Intestinal-Type NCGA Projections between 1978 and 2040: Scenarios

For our base-case scenario, we incorporated all observed risk factor trends and projected intestinal-type NCGA outcomes over two time periods: 1978–2008 and 2008–2040. To explore the impact of alternative risk factor scenarios, we re-ran the model for several other risk factor scenarios and compared model outcomes with the base-case scenario. First, to estimate the combined contribution of H. pylori and smoking trends on cancer outcomes over time, we allowed only H. pylori and smoking trends to vary (e.g., “all other risk factors” halted at pre-1900 levels). We also estimated the contribution of individual risk factors by allowing each risk factor to vary (i.e., H. pylori) while holding the rates of the other two risk factors (i.e., smoking patterns and “all other risk factors”) constant at pre-1900 birth cohort levels.

For insight on the relative impact of the lower smoking initiation and higher cessation rates that were observed after the 1964 Report on Smoking and Health [19], we evaluated two additional hypothetical scenarios, previously described in the context of lung cancer [28],[35]: (1) no tobacco control, in which mid-century tobacco control efforts were assumed to have never been implemented, and (2) complete tobacco control, in which all smoking ceased abruptly in 1965, with all smokers quitting permanently in 1965 and no smoking initiation after 1964.

For each scenario, we calculated the percent decline in cancer incidence over two time periods: 1978–2008 and 2008–2040. To understand the effects of risk factors and tobacco control, we also report the relative contribution of alternative risk factor scenarios to the base-case scenario decline in cancer incidence (defined as the risk factor scenario percent decline divided by base-case scenario percent decline, and reported as a percentage).

Results

Age-Standardized Intestinal-Type NCGA Incidence

Historical trends, 1978 to 2008

For our base case, reflecting all observed risk trends, the model estimated that the age-standardized intestinal-type NCGA incidence declined from 11.0 to 4.4 per 100,000 men between 1978 and 2008 (60% decline), less than a 3% discrepancy with SEER estimates for that period (Table 2) [7].

Table 2. Modeled intestinal-type NCGA outcomes between 1978 and 2040: age-standardized incidence, percent change in incidence, and relative contribution of alternative risk factor scenarios to the base-case scenario percent decline in incidence.

Scenariosa , b , c	Age-Standardized Intestinal-Type NCGA Incidence (per 100,000)			Percent Change in Age-Standardized Intestinal-Type NCGA Incidence, Mean (Range)d		Percent Relative Contribution of Alternative Risk Factor Scenario to Base-Case Scenario Percent Decline in Age-Standardized Intestinal-Type NCGA Incidence, Mean (Range)d , e
				Historical	Projected	Historical	Projected
	1978	2008	2040	1978–2008	2008–2040	1978–2008	2008–2040
Base case (all risk factors)	11.0	4.4	2.3	−60.1 (−55.5 to −64.8)	−47.3 (−34.7 to −59.4)	—	—
H. pylori and smoking only	12.7	9.2	5.7	−28.1 (−17.8 to −35.4)	−37.7 (−27.0 to −47.7)	46.7 (29.8–57.9)	80.5 (60.7–100.0)f
H. pylori only	10.9	8.1	6.4	−25.7 (−21.1 to −29.7)	−21.4 (−16.5 to −25.4)	42.8 (35.4–48.4)	46.0 (34.7–65.8)
Smoking only	15.4	15.1	12.1	−2.0 (−10.3 to +6.6)	−19.9 (−10.6 to −29.2)	3.2 (0.0–16.8)g	41.8 (28.6–66.6)
All other causes only	11.1	5.7	4.6	−49.0 (−40.0 to −55.9)	−19.2 (−6.1 to −33.4)	81.5 (70.3–93.4)	40.2 (11.9–68.8)
+H. pylori	9.6	3.7	2.6	−61.2 (−55.2 to −67.8)	−30.4 (−18.2 to −43.3)	101.9 (91.9–112.9)	64.4 (39.9–81.1)
+Smoking	12.9	6.5	4.0	−49.6 (−43.9 to −54.5)	−38.3 (−24.9 to −53.6)	82.6 (74.5–89.7)	80.5 (62.6–98.2)
No tobacco control	11.4	5.0	3.5	−56.0 (−49.8 to −59.8)	−30.4 (−17.0 to −43.0)	93.1 (82.7–100.0)h	64.3 (46.1–83.4)
Complete tobacco control	10.1	3.6	1.6	−63.9 (−57.7 to −67.8)	−55.0 (−37.2 to −76.6)	106.3 (100.0–114.2)i	115.8 (100.0–140.7)i

^aFor scenarios in which smoking was halted at pre-1900 birth cohort levels, we classified all individuals who initiated smoking after 1925 as never smokers (as smoking rates were relatively stable before then) and assumed that all smokers faced an annual rate of cessation of 1%.

^bFor scenarios in which H. pylori was halted at pre-1900 birth cohort levels, we assumed a prevalence of 73%.

^cFor scenarios in which “all other risk factors” was halted at pre-1900 birth cohort levels, we assumed a negligible rate of decline in the probability of developing atrophy for all birth cohorts.

^dAmong the 50 randomly selected good-fitting natural history parameter sets identified via calibration.

^eBased on comparisons to the base-case scenario within each parameter set. Calculated as the alternative risk factor scenario percent decline divided by the base-case scenario percent decline, and reported as a percentage.

^fRange includes estimates for two parameter sets in which the intestinal-type NCGA decline estimated with only H. pylori and smoking trends exceeded the base case, reflecting the underlying dynamics with “all other risk factors.” Assumed the percentage of the base-case scenario explained by “H. pylori and smoking only” was 100% for these parameter sets.

^gRange includes 14 parameter sets for which intestinal-type NCGA incidence increased as a result of smoking trends. Assumed the percentage of the base-case scenario explained by “smoking alone” was zero for these parameter sets.

^hRange includes estimates for two parameter sets in which more than 100% of the observed decline was explained by “no tobacco control,” as a result of higher background mortality rates among smokers (e.g., intestinal-type NCGA incidence was lower as higher smoking rates resulted in a greater number of individuals dying from smoking-related competing risks and therefore fewer individuals being at risk to develop intestinal-type NCGA). Assumed the percentage of the base-case scenario explained by “no tobacco control” was zero for these parameter sets.

ⁱRange includes estimates for six parameter sets (two for 1978–2008 and four for 2008–2040) in which less than 100% of observed decline was explained by “complete tobacco control,” as a result of lower background mortality rates among non-smokers (e.g., intestinal-type NCGA incidence was higher as lower rates of smoking resulted in more individuals living longer and developing intestinal-type NCGA). Assumed the percentage of the base-case scenario explained by “complete tobacco control” was 100% for these parameter sets.

When only observed H. pylori prevalence and smoking trends were incorporated in the model (e.g., “all other risk factors” held constant at pre-1900 birth cohort levels), intestinal-type NCGA incidence decreased by 28% (12.7 to 9.2 per 100,000 men). This suggests that H. pylori and smoking trends are responsible for 47% (range = 30%–58%) of the observed cancer decline (Figure 4). Evaluated individually, H. pylori (43%; range = 35%–48%) and “all other risk factors” (82%; range = 70%–93%) were responsible for a significant proportion of the cancer decline; in contrast, smoking was responsible for a much smaller fraction (3%; range = 0%–17%). Among the 50 good-fitting parameter sets, the proportion attributable to “all other risk factors” was consistently greater than for H. pylori, and the proportion for H. pylori was greater than for smoking.

Figure 4. Modeled age-standardized intestinal-type NCGA incidence between 1978 and 2040 for select scenarios.

(A–C) Age-standardized intestinal-type NCGA incidence for select scenarios. Mean (solid line) and range (shaded area) among the 50 randomly selected good-fitting parameter sets are shown. (A) Cancer incidence for the base-case scenario (all risk factor trends) (black) and H. pylori and smoking only scenario (light blue). (B) Cancer incidence for the base-case scenario (black) and “no tobacco control” scenario (light blue). (C) Cancer incidence for the base-case scenario (black) and “complete tobacco control” scenario (light blue). Ranges were calculated across all 50 parameter sets and smoothed with a 3-y moving average.

Under the “no tobacco control” scenario, the model estimated that age-standardized intestinal-type NCGA incidence declined 56% (11.4 to 5.0 per 100,000 men) (Figure 4). This finding suggests that the lower smoking initiation and higher cessation rates observed after the 1960s accelerated the relative decline in intestinal-type NCGA incidence by 7% (calculated as the base case percent decline divided by the “no tobacco control” percent decline = 107.4); the relative decline ranged from 0% to 21% among the 50 good-fitting parameter sets. Under the “complete tobacco control” scenario, compared with the base case, the relative decline in intestinal-type NCGA incidence would have been greater by 6% (range = 0%–14%) (Figure 4).

Projected trends, 2008 to 2040

For the base case, with continuation of risk factor trends, intestinal-type NCGA incidence is projected to decline an additional 47% between 2008 and 2040 (4.4 to 2.3 per 100,000 men) (Table 2). During this period, H. pylori and smoking trends would account for 81% (range = 61%–100%) of the observed cancer incidence decline. Evaluated separately, trends in H. pylori (46%; range = 35%–66%), smoking (42%; range = 29%–67%), and “all other risk factors” (40%; range = 12%–69%) would each account for a substantial proportion of the projected decline. H. pylori trends were responsible for a greater proportion of the observed decline in 22 of the 50 good-fitting parameter sets (44%) than either of the other two risk factors.

Under the “no tobacco control” scenario, the model projected that between 2008 and 2040, intestinal-type NCGA incidence would decline 30% (5.0 to 3.5 per 100,000 men). This implies that during this time period, smoking behavior changes beginning in the 1960s would accelerate the relative decline in intestinal-type NCGA incidence by 56% (range = 20%–117%) (as compared to 7% [range = 0%–21%] between 1978 and 2008). Similarly, had “complete tobacco control” occurred in 1965, the relative decline in intestinal-type NCGA incidence between 2008 and 2040 would also be greater by 16% (range = 0%–41%) (versus 6% [range = 0%–14%] between 1978 and 2008).

Number of Intestinal-Type NCGA Cases

Reflecting the combined effects of changing risk factor trends and population growth and ageing on cancer outcomes (in contrast to age-standardized cancer incidence), the model estimated that between 1978 and 2008, the annual number of intestinal-type NCGA cases for the base case fell by 33% (6,180 to 4,160 cases) (range = 24%–41%) (Table 3). Between 2008 and 2040, the number of cases continued to decline by 10% (to 3,760 cases). As a result of the uncertainty in the combined effects of continued risk factor trends and population growth, the percent change among the 50 good-fitting parameter sets ranged from a 31% decline to a 12% increase during this period.

Table 3. Modeled intestinal-type NCGA outcomes between 1978 and 2040: annual number of cancer cases and percent change in number of cases.

Scenarios	Annual Number of Intestinal-Type NCGA Cases			Percent Change in Annual Number of Intestinal-Type NCGA Cases, Mean (Range)a
				Historical	Projectedb
	1978	2008	2040	1978–2008	2008–2040
Base case (all risk factors)	6,180	4,160	3,760	−32.7 (−23.7 to −40.8)	−9.8 (−30.9 to 12.4)
H. pylori and smoking only	7,510	8,770	9,050	16.8 (4.9 to 30.0)	3.3 (−12.7 to 22.2)
No tobacco control	6,380	4,450	4,960	−30.3 (−20.9 to −38.1)	11.7 (−7.9 to 29.6)
Complete tobacco control	5,940	3,910	3,050	−34.2 (−25.1 to −41.8)	−22.0 (−58.3 to 8.6)

^aAmong the 50 randomly selected good-fitting natural history parameter sets identified via calibration.

^bRange for percent change included both positive and negative estimates, reflecting the uncertainty of the combined effects of continued risk factor trends and population growth on annual intestinal-type NCGA cases.

Under the “no tobacco control” scenario, the relative annual number of intestinal-type NCGA cases decreased by 30% (range = 21%–38%) between 1978 and 2008, and by 12% between 2008 and 2040 (Figure 5). Among the 50 good-fitting parameter sets, there was considerable uncertainty in the 2008–2040 estimates, ranging from a relative 8% decrease to a relative 30% increase in annual number of cases. Compared to base-case estimates, this suggests that anti-smoking efforts averted a total of 5,770 cases (3%; range = 0%–7%) between 1978 and 2008, and potentially as many as 22,470 cases (15%; range = 6%–23%) between 2008 and 2040. Had “complete tobacco control” in 1965 been possible, compared to the base-case scenario, an additional 19,890 cases (7%; range = 0.2%–13%) could have been potentially averted during the overall 1978 to 2040 time period (Figure 5).

Figure 5. Modeled annual intestinal-type NCGA cases between 1978 and 2040 for select scenarios.

These figures show the number of annual incident intestinal-type NCGC cases. Mean (solid line) and range (shaded area) among the 50 randomly selected good-fitting parameter sets are shown. (A) Cancer cases for the base-case scenario (black) and “no tobacco control” scenario (light blue). (B) Cancer cases for the base-case scenario (black) and “complete tobacco control” scenario (light blue). Ranges were calculated across all 50 parameter sets and smoothed with a 3-y moving average.

Prevalence of Precancerous Gastric Lesions

Between 1978 and 2008, the model estimated that age-standardized prevalence of intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia both declined by approximately 50% between 1978 and 2008 (intestinal metaplasia range = 41%–56%; dysplasia range = 48%–58%). The decline is projected to continue, though at slower rates between 2008 and 2040 (intestinal metaplasia range = 20%–39%; dysplasia range = 30%–46%) (Figure 6).

Figure 6. Age-standardized prevalence of precancerous lesions between 1978 and 2040.

For individuals 20 y and older, age-standardized prevalence of intestinal metaplasia (dark blue) and dysplasia (light blue) are shown in this graph. Mean (solid line) and range (shaded region) among the 50 randomly selected good fitting parameter sets are shown to reflect the impact of natural history uncertainty on prevalence estimates.

Discussion

The US decline in GC has been remarkable over the past century. While H. pylori is estimated to be responsible for the majority of distal tumors [36], the effect of declining childhood infection rates on intestinal-type NCGA over time has not been previously estimated. Incorporating the best available epidemiologic, etiologic, and demographic data, our microsimulation model analysis suggests that, in combination with changes in smoking patterns, nearly 50% of the observed cancer decline between 1978 and 2008 is attributable to the decline in H. pylori infection rates. Further, the decline in cancer incidence is projected to continue through 2040, with the contribution of H. pylori and smoking increasing to 80%. As with intestinal-type NCGA risk, the absolute number of cancer cases has also declined each year, though at a projected slower rate between 2008 and 2040 due to the combined effects of continued risk factor trends and demographic changes.

Our model-based findings highlight the challenges and successes of prevention efforts for GC. We found that a significant time lag exists between the implementation of any risk factor modification and population-level effects, even those that target progression rates of advanced lesions. For example, our model estimated that following the US Surgeon General's first report on the consequences of smoking, tobacco control efforts beginning in the mid-1960s accelerated the decline in intestinal-type NCGA incidence by only 7% between 1978 and 2008. However, in the following 22-y period, the decline may increase by 8-fold to 56%. In addition, we estimate that tobacco control efforts will avert 9% (28,000 cases) of intestinal-type NCGA cases between 1978 and 2040. In conjunction with the estimated 34% of lung cancer deaths averted among men between 1975 and 2000 [28], our estimates for GC provide further evidence of the health benefits of tobacco control.

Several other important insights can be gained from our findings. First, compared to smoking, the contribution of H. pylori on the decline in intestinal-type NCGA was several-fold greater between 1978 and 2008, but equal in magnitude between 2008 and 2040, reflecting the differential time trends for each risk factor. H. pylori prevalence began to decline in the early 1900s while smoking rates increased until the mid-1950s and declined in the following decades. In addition, the sum of the individual contributions for H. pylori and smoking exceeded the decline estimated with both concurrent trends. This illustrates the underlying risk factor dynamics on gastric carcinogenesis. Because H. pylori affects disease progression early on, and smoking at more advanced stages, as H. pylori prevalence declines, fewer people develop advanced lesions and benefit from lower smoking rates. As such, reductions in these two risk factors do not appear to be additive in their effects on cancer incidence, which is consistent with each risk factor influencing a different but sequential step in gastric carcinogenesis. These findings could have significant implications for GC control strategies.

Second, we attempted to calibrate our model by incorporating only H. pylori and smoking trends, but were unable to fit to the decline observed in SEER between 1978 and 2008 until we allowed the probability of developing atrophy to decline exponentially among consecutive 5-y birth cohorts. This finding suggests that changes in other risk factors are needed to explain the decline in intestinal-type NCGA incidence over time, and, according to our model, specifically risk factors that changed substantially during the first half of the 20th century. Availability of refrigeration may be one of these risk factors. Rates of US refrigeration rose steadily during the early 20th century [3], and data from Japan suggest that GC mortality rates declined as the proportion of households with refrigeration increased [37]. The underlying mechanism of refrigeration on intestinal-type NCGA risk likely stems from reduced salt consumption, and possibly increased intake of fresh fruits and vegetables [38]. Consistent with our findings, clinical studies suggest that the salt intake may act synergistically with H. pylori to promote the development of GC [39]–[42]. In addition, our model suggests that H. pylori is largely responsible for the progression of gastritis to atrophy (relative risk ranged from 16 to 41 among the good-fitting natural history parameter sets identified via model calibration).

Other risk factors that may explain the observed decline in intestinal-type NCGA include genetic profiles, virulence of H. pylori strain, and bacterial/host genotypic features [43]. However, these factors are not likely to have dramatically changed over time. Use of histamine-2-reception antagonists and proton pump inhibitors, the most common treatment for gastric acid production reduction, has changed over time. Yet evidence on the associated intestinal-type NCGA risk for these pharmacological treatments is inconclusive [44]. In addition, with both not having been introduced until the 1970s or 1980s, they are unlikely to explain the decrease in risk that our model suggestions should have started in the early 1900s.

Third, our model demonstrates the importance of considering the temporal relationships between risk factor changes and the attainment of long-term benefits on cancer outcomes. As the decline in H. pylori infection rates (albeit at different rates) and the tobacco epidemic are global phenomena, and the multifactorial etiology of intestinal-type NCGA is largely driven by these two risk factors, our findings provide important insight on the potential expected declines in other countries and may be in particular generalizable for countries experiencing similar risk factor trends. Because of the variability in risk factor trend magnitude and timing, the contribution of H. pylori and smoking to the decline of cancer incidence will depend on country-specific trends and the underlying temporal relationship between the risk factors. For example, countries experiencing declines in H. pylori prevalence during the initial stages of the tobacco epidemic (where uptake of smoking has not yet plateaued) will likely have smaller reductions in cancer outcomes than countries that are undergoing declines in both risk factors at the same time. The influence of other risk factor trends in each country will be an important consideration as well.

Fourth, recent trend analyses suggest that while age-standardized NCGA rates are declining overall [6],[22],[45]–[47], age-specific rates may be increasing [6],[45]. Our analyses found that among younger individuals, age-specific intestinal-type NCGA rates have declined and are projected to continue to decline because of H. pylori, smoking, and other risk factor trends. This was true even in the “no tobacco control” scenario (see Text S1). The increase is likely not related to changes (or rather lack of changes) in smoking behaviors. We also found that along with age-standardized intestinal-type NCGA incidence, prevalence of intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia has significantly declined over time. This is relevant from a clinical standpoint as the rise in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and endoscopy use has resulted in detection of incidental precancerous lesions. Our model suggests that with continued risk factor trends, between 2008 and 2040, the prevalence will not vary greatly for intestinal metaplasia (4%–6%) or dysplasia (<1%), and are similar to estimates for the Netherlands (9.5% and 0.7% in 2004).

While simulation modeling has been used to better understand the impact of lifestyle changes and cancer control measures on colorectal [48], lung [28], and breast cancer [49] incidence and mortality, our approach has several limitations. First, we assumed all other risk factors influenced gastric carcinogenesis as one factor early on in the precancerous process. Other environmental factors, or rather a combination, may in reality have affected the probability of developing atrophy and/or other disease transitions over time. Smoking may have affected gastric carcinogenesis at other points as well. As data on additional risk factors and their impact on precancerous process become available, our model can be updated and revised to reflect these changes. In particular, incorporating salt intake or other dietary risk factors into the model may help to further understand the contribution of risk factor changes to the decline in cancer incidence. We focused only on intestinal-type NCGA, and H. pylori and smoking affect the risk for other types of GC, including mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas [50]. However, a strength of our study is to look specifically at trends in noncardia intestinal gastric adenocarcinoma, as previous descriptive studies of SEER have been unable to examine trends by individual subsite or by Lauren classification due to incomplete reporting and small numbers [45].

In addition, our natural history parameters are based on model calibration, and are surrounded by uncertainty. We sought to explicitly capture the impact of natural history uncertainty on modeled outcomes by using a random subset of 50 good-fitting parameter sets to provide upper and lower bounds of results. Our model-based approach required several simplifying assumptions, such as assuming the effect of smoking cessation on disease progression rates was immediate or that the relative risk associated with smoking for background mortality was constant across birth cohorts, but were based on the best data available [11],[12],[31]. Birth cohort risk factor trends were estimated from national surveys, which may be biased and underestimate the true prevalence of H. pylori or smoking. For example, we also did not account for changes in H. pylori treatment and/or endoscopy rates, which may have caused us to underestimate the proportion of intestinal-type NCGA incidence attributable to changes in H. pylori prevalence.

We also only focused on men. While the decline in H. pylori prevalence has been similar, the smoking epidemic among women has been quite distinct from men [51],[52]. Absolute intestinal-type NCGA risk is also lower among women [2]. As such, our results likely provide an upper bound estimate on the proportion of intestinal-type NCGA incidence among women attributable to declining H. pylori and smoking trends; specific analyses are needed to provide more accurate estimates for women and the overall population. In addition, our projections may not fully account for the impact of projected rates of immigration of individuals from high GC risk countries. As GC risk is largely determined by exposures early on in life, cancer projections may be especially sensitive to the increasing proportion of individuals who migrate to the US after childhood, particularly if their risk factor profiles differ from the average NHANES and NHIS patterns on which our model was based. NHANES and NHIS data also suggest that H. pylori [53] and smoking trends [51] have varied by race/ethnicity, and it is unclear whether risk factor trends have widened or narrowed observed disparities in intestinal-type NCGA risk. As such, next steps in our efforts to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the US decline of GC include expanding our model-based approach to women and race/ethnicity subgroups by incorporating underlying differential risk factor trends to explore their combined effects on population-level cancer outcomes and disparities.

In conclusion, trends in modifiable risk factors explain a significant proportion of the decline of intestinal-type NCGA incidence in the US, and will contribute to future decline. While lower H. pylori infection rates have reduced cancer risk, other environmental factors may be equally important. Although past tobacco control efforts have hastened the decline, the full benefits will take several decades to be realized, and further discouragement of smoking and reduction of H. pylori infection should be priorities for GC control efforts.

Supporting Information

Text S1

Additional supporting information.

(PDF)

Abbreviations

GC

gastric cancer

NCGA

noncardia gastric adenocarcinoma

NHANES

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

NHIS

National Health Interview Survey

SEER

Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results

Funding Statement

JMY was funded by the National Institutes of Health's National Cancer Institute (K07-CA143044). The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.