GISTAR study: In collaboration with Latvia University we are conducting a study to investigate the impact of Helicobacter pylori eradication and assessment of chronic atrophic gastritis (by serum pepsinogen levels) on gastric cancer incidence and mortality (GISTAR) in Latvia with an aim to expand the study to several Eastern European countries. Approximately 30,000 subjects aged 40-64 are randomized to 1) screening for Helicobacter pylori and serum pepsinogen, with referral of subjects with serologic evidence of atrophic gastritis to endoscopy and treatment of Helicobacter pylori positive subjects or 2) no intervention. A 15-year follow-up is anticipated to evaluate impact on gastric cancer mortality. Pilot work with 3,455 participants was successfully completed in Latvia and the main trial is currently underway. This is at present the only study in Europe addressing population-based eradication of Helicobacter pylori to prevent gastric cancer as recommended by international guidelines and will have important public health implications by providing leads for prevention activities in populations with elevated rates of gastric cancer, particularly in Baltic and Eastern European regions where the public health burden from the disease is substantial.
• Leja M, Park JY, Murillo R, Liepniece-Karele I, Isajevs S, Kikuste I, Rudzite D, Krike P, Parshutin S, Polaka I, Kirsners A, Santare D, Folkmanis V, Daugule I, Plummer M, Herrero R. Multicentric randomized study of H. pylori eradication and pepsinogen testing for prevention of gastric cancer mortality: the GISTAR study. BMJ Open (2017), 11;7(8):e016999

HELPER study: We have initiated a randomized clinical trial in collaboration with the National Cancer Center of Korea to evaluate the impact of Helicobacter pylori eradication on gastric cancer incidence (HELPER) within the Korean National Cancer Screening Programme (KNCSP) taking advantage of the high coverage endoscopic screening programme. Approximately 11,000 participants aged 40-65 who undergo endoscopy as part of KNCSP are invited to the study. Helicobacter pylori positive subjects are randomized to treatment or placebo with follow up through KNCSP (endoscopy every two years) for 10 years. This is a unique study which will have a major impact in guiding international policy for gastric cancer prevention. Specifically, the trial will be important to strengthen the evidence base on the impact and feasibility of Helicobacter pylori eradication for reduction in gastric cancer, an outstanding question of global importance for public health. Furthermore, HELPER will address potential adverse effects of the Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment, in addition to identifying other factors associated with gastric cancer development, which need consideration before initiating population-based Helicobacter pylori eradication programmes.
• Choi IJ, Park JY, and Herrero R. Effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on gastric cancer prevention in the Republic of Korea: a randomized controlled clinical trial. In: IARC Helicobacter pylori Working Group. Helicobacter pylori Eradication as a Strategy for Preventing Gastric Cancer. Lyon: International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC Working Group Reports, No. 8); pp. 154-160. 2014

ENIGMA study: The ENIGMA study consists of a series of international prevalence surveys in high and low gastric cancer risk areas: prevalence surveys of Helicobacter pylori infection (ENIGMA I); and prevalence studies of gastric histological changes (ENIGMA II). ENIGMA I includes age-stratified random samples of subjects aged 1-69 and investigates age-specific Helicobacter pylori prevalence and cofactors (bacterial, host and environmental) that could explain the regional differences, in addition to predicting future rates of gastric cancer and assessing antibiotic resistance in each area. In ENIGMA II, we investigate the epidemiology of gastric premalignant conditions among the ENIGMA I participants aged 40 years or older. By collecting standardized data, we aim to investigate the epidemiology of gastric premalignant conditions and the role of bacterial, environmental and host factors. The ENIGMA study will contribute to elucidate the reasons for the geographic variation in gastric cancer and precursors and to predict future burden of disease based on Helicobacter pylori and gastric cancer precursor prevalence. It will also provide information on cofactors of gastric cancer and precursors to conduct case-control and cohort studies to confirm their role in gastric carcinogenesis.



Park JY, Forman D, Waskito LA, Yamaoka Y, Crabtree JE. Epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori and CagA-Positive Infections and Global Variations in Gastric Cancer. Toxins (2018), 10(4).

Leja M, Park JY, Murillo R, Liepniece-Karele I, Isajevs S, Kikuste I, Rudzite D, Krike P, Parshutin S, Polaka I, Kirsners A, Santare D, Folkmanis V, Daugule I, Plummer M, Herrero R. Multicentric randomized study of H. pylori eradication and pepsinogen testing for prevention of gastric cancer mortality: the GISTAR study. BMJ Open (2017), 11;7(8):e016999

Herrero R, Park JY, Forman D. The fight against gastric cancer – the IARC Working group report. Best Practice & Research: Clinical Gastroenterology, 28:1107-1114.

Greenberg ER and Park JY. Effectiveness of Helicobacter pylori eradication. In: IARC Helicobacter pylori Working Group. Helicobacter pylori Eradication as a Strategy for Preventing Gastric Cancer. Lyon: International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC Working Group Reports, No. 8); pp. 64-71.

Park JY, von Karsa L and Herrero R. Prevention and screening of gastric cancer. Clinical Endoscopy, 47:478-489.

Park JY, Greenberg ER, Parsonnet, J et al. Summary of IARC Working Group Meeting on Helicobacter pylori eradication as a strategy for preventing gastric cancer. In: IARC Helicobacter pylori Working Group. Helicobacter pylori Eradication as a Strategy for Preventing Gastric Cancer. Lyon: International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC Working Group Reports, No. 8); pp. 1-4.

Park JY, Forman D, Greenberg ER and Herrero R. Helicobacter pylori eradication in the prevention of gastric cancer: Are more trials needed? Current Oncology Reports, 15(6):517-525.


• Associate Member of the American Association for Cancer Research

• Young Investigator Member of the European Association for Cancer Research


• Women in Cancer Research (WICR) Scholar Award, American Association for Cancer Research, USA
• IARC Postdoctoral Fellowship (jointly supported by the EU Marie Curie Actions-People-COFUND) (Nov 2010- Nov 2012)