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About GISTAR

GISTAR - multicentric randomized study of H.pylori eradication and pepsinogen testing for prevention of gastric cancer mortality.

Cancers of the digestive system are forming the largest groups of malignant diseases worldwide, accounting for 3.88 million new cases and being responsible for 2.83 million deaths annually.

Colorectal cancer (cancer of the large intestine) and cancer of the stomach are among the most common digestive cancers. Most of the cancers are preventable; if diagnosed early, most of the cancers, including colorectal and gastric cancers are treatable successfully.

The protocol of the GISTAR study is available from:
http://bmjopen.bmj.com/

GISTAR – is the initiative of University of Latvia (LU) and international experts to study the opportunities and efficacy for digestive cancer screening and early detection. The GISTAR Project concept has been developed based on the results of European Social Fund Project “Interdisciplinary research group for early cancer detection and cancer prevention”, Nr. 2009/0220/1DP/1.1.1.2.0/09/APIA/VIAA/016 (http://www.vezaizpete.lu.lv/projekts).

This study is to search for new intervention strategies to prove the efficacy of gastric cancer screening and optimize colorectal cancer screening in high-risk areas.

Healthy individuals aged 40-64 will be invited to express their willingness to participate in the project. A questionnaire will be filled-in to summarize the life-style factors of the individuals as well as previous medical conditions and complains. Part of those having expressed their willingness to participate will be invited for further analysis. The selection will be made on a random basis; but those requiring immediate medical assistance will be recommended to undergo diagnostic testing. The group of the selected individuals will be offered a blood test to identify the signs of atrophy in the stomach (condition carrying increased gastric cancer development risk) and to undergo a test for occult blood in faeces (to select people at risk for colorectal cancer). Patients having a positive test result (i.e. deviation from the normal result) will be invited for further diagnostic investigations. Further follow-up of the enrolled individuals is planned for the next 10-15 years.

2009/0220/1DP/1.1.1.2.0/09/APIA/VIAA/016