Dynamics of stomach bacteria revealed for the first time as stomach cancer progresses in Chile

Researchers at the UMAG Faculty of Medicine in Chile have presented a study to the scientific world that reveals for the first time how stomach bacteria change during the progression of stomach cancer. Published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology, the research examined the process ranging from benign lesions such as gastritis to advanced-stage stomach cancer. This doctoral study, conducted by Daniela Zapata, was recorded as a significant scientific milestone in understanding microbiotal dynamics specific to the Chilean population.

The study determined that in the advanced stages of the disease, the *Helicobacter pylori* bacterium was replaced by species such as *Lactobacillus* and *Limosilactobacillus*. Researchers anticipate that these bacterial changes could be used as new biomarkers to determine patients' risk levels in the future. The study, which utilized a long-read sequencing technology called Nanopore, serves a complementary nature to existing traditional diagnostic methods.

The research is based on data from the MAGIC Cohort and the University of Chile Biobank (BTUCH), which have been active since 2018. In the project, where 162 tissue samples from 83 patients in the Magallanes and Santiago regions were analyzed, the differences in bacterial composition according to disease stages and regions were detailed. Scientists emphasize the importance of strengthening biological data collections to develop personalized cancer prevention strategies.