ClinicalTrials.gg
RecruitingNCT06275204Updated Mar 5, 2024

H. Pylori Screen-and-treat Study in a Population of Young Adults

An observational study in Gastric Cancer, H Pylori Infection and H Pylori Eradication, sponsored by University of Latvia. Recruiting at 7 sites in 6 countries. Open to participants aged 30 Years to 34 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-03-05.

Sponsored by University of Latvia · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
6,800
Ages
30 Years to 34 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Gastric cancer remains a major challenge to public health on a global scale. H. pylori related cancer burden contributes to the largest proportion of cancer cases attributable to infections in Europe. Considering its absolute burden and persisting disparities, in addition to the substantial prevalence of H. pylori infection worldwide that is treatable, gastric cancer is a logical target for urgent action for prevention. Population-based H. pylori test-and-treat has therefore been proposed as a strategy for gastric cancer prevention. To fill the gaps in knowledge about gastric cancer prevention through H. pylori screening and eradication in younger adults, a study of a population-based H. pylori test-and-treat strategy in Ireland, Croatia, Latvia, Poland, Romania and Slovenia.

Main goals of this study are to assess future program processes, feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness. In total of 6,800 adults aged 30-34 will be tested for H. pylori infection. They will be randomly selected to represent the chosen population and invited to participate in the study based on informed consent. Confirmed infections will be treated by available combined therapy in line with treatment guidelines and the success of eradication will be retested during a control check-up.

Patients who will provide their consent to participate will undertake an interview about the risk factors in early childhood and their habits regarding alcohol consumption and use of tobacco. Compliance to testing and treatment, treatment results, adverse effects and reasons for dropping out will be additionally monitored. Gathered data will be analysed in alignment with our research questions. The investigators will disseminate reports and present the results to both the general public and the scientific community in order to foster future developments in gastric cancer prevention.

Read the detailed description

The main objective of this study is to assess the feasibility of population-based H. pylori test-and-treat strategy for gastric cancer prevention in Europe. The study will allow to assess the feasibility of implementing H. pylori test-and-treat program in an early 30's age group at the population level, which will be carried out for the first time in Europe. This will come with scientifically valid assessment of programme processes, acceptance, effectiveness and possible adverse consequences.

The assessment of predefined quality indicators and achievements of each project task will consequently allow us to scale up the project to the national level, for example, by instituting a national program for gastric cancer prevention with population-based H. pylori test-and-treat program in the asymptomatic population around 30 years of age in different EU countries. The implementation of this strategy as a national program could result in significantly reduced gastric cancer incidence, disease burden and costs of other H. pylori-related diseases in the medium and long term in Slovenia and other participating countries, thus serving as a model for the implementation of this strategy in Europe.

The results of the study can help to guide other EU countries with intermediate and high gastric cancer incidence when implementing similar strategies. The results can also help to guide EU countries with low gastric cancer incidence when implementing similar programs for their subpopulations at risk (e.g. family members of patients with gastric cancer and immigrants from countries with high H. pylori infection and gastric cancer incidence). If implemented in a young adult population, the program can prevent further spread of H. pylori infection by curing the infection before or when they have just started their own families, therefore reducing the risk of intrafamilial transmission.

As shown in previously published economic evaluations of the strategy, the program is not only cost-effective in gastric cancer prevention but also in other high-risk areas. Besides that, H. pylori eradication will also prevent other serious clinical complications, such as peptic ulcers, dyspepsia, primary immune thrombocytopenia and anaemia caused by H. pylori infection.

In total, seven research centers from different European countries participate in the study - Croatia, Ireland, Latvia, Poland, Romania, and Slovenia. A predefined population of young people between 30 to 34 years of age will be invited to participate in the study. Based on signed informed consent they will be offered testing for H. pylori infection.

Acceptability and participation rate of the H. pylori test-and-treat strategy, the prevalence of H. pylori infection in the population of young adults, compliance with the 14-days treatment scheme, the eradication rate, and any adverse effects of the treatment in the population will be thoroughly assessed. Testing and treatment procedure will be substantiated with data about early childhood risk factors for H. pylori infection and the use of tobacco and alcohol consumption. Method used for capturing the participants' self-reported data will be a questionnaire administered by a health professional or self-administered by the patient.

Each center has its own specific research design:

  1. Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka (KBC Rijeka), Croatia: 13C-urea breath test (UBT) confirmatory testing combined with H. pylori serology will be determined. H. pylori positive patients will be treated by bismuth-based quadruple therapy (Protocol I):

    • Protocol I with penicillin includes the following medications: Antibiotic 1 - Amoxicillin 4 x 500 mg or Clarithromycin 2 x 400 mg, Antibiotic 2 - Metronidazole 4 x 400 mg, Proton pump inhibitor - Esomeprazole 2 x 40 mg, Colloidal bismuth - Bismuth oxide 4 x 120 mg.

    In case there will be a treatment failure after Protocol I is completed, the remaining patients with a positive infection will be referred to a secondary treatment (Protocol II):

    • Protocol II includes the following medications: Antibiotic 1 - Levofloxacin 1 x 500 mg, Antibiotic 2 - Metronidazole 4 x 400 mg, Proton pump inhibitor - Esomeprazole 2 x 40 mg, Colloidal bismuth - Bismuth oxide 4 x 120 mg. All medications included in Protocol I or Protocol II will be taken orally for 14 consecutive days. After Protocol II is completed, the remaining patients with persisting infection will be treated by gastroenterologist according clinical practice guidelines.
  2. University Hospital Centre Zagreb (KBC Zagreb), Croatia: 13C-urea breath test (UBT) confirmatory testing will be determined. In case of positive results participants will be treated with bismuth-based quadruple therapy (Protocol I). One month following the treatment a control UBT will be performed in order to confirm eradication. In case of treatment failure participants will be treated with second-line treatment (Protocol II).
  3. Beacon Hospital, Ireland: H. pylori serology with high sensitivity will be offered to participants. For participants with positive serology test results, an additional UBT confirmatory testing will be the second step to confirm an active infection. H. pylori positive patients will be treated by bismuth-based quadruple therapy (Protocol I). One month after conclusion of the treatment a control UBT will be used to confirm eradication. Patients with treatment failure will be treated with an additional second protocol (Protocol II) according to local recommendations.
  4. University of Latvia, Latvia: participants will be tested for H. pylori infection by UBT. H. pylori positive participants will be offered standard triple therapy for 14 days as the first-line therapy:

    Antibiotic 1 - Amoxicillin 2 x 1000 mg, Antibiotic 2 - Clarithromycin 2 x 500 mg, Proton pump inhibitor - Esomeprazole 2 x 40 mg.

    At least 30 days after the treatment participants will be retested for H. pylori by UBT to confirm eradication. Participants with treatment failure will be recommended second line treatment - levofloxacin-based:

    Antibiotic 1 - Levofloxacin 2 x 500 mg, Antibiotic 2 - Amoxicillin 2 x 1000 mg, Proton pump inhibitor - Esomeprazole 2 x 40 mg

    Or Pylera based:

    Antibiotic 1 - Metronidazole 4 x 125 mg Antibiotic 2 - Tetracycline 4 x 125 mg Colloidal bismuth - Bismuth Subcitrate Potassium 4 x 140 mg Proton pump inhibitor - Esomeprazole 2 x 40 mg

  5. Uniwersytet medyczny we Wrocławiu, Poland: participants will be tested for H. pylori infection by locally validated H. pylori serology test. In case of a positive result the UBT will be performed for confirmation. Positive patients will be treated with bismuth-based quadruple therapy (Protocol I) followed by control UBT in order to confirm eradication. Treatment failure participants will be treated with second line treatment (Protocol II).
  6. Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy (UMF), Romania: Locally validated H. pylori serology with high sensitivity will be offered to participants. For participants with positive serology test results, additional UBT confirmatory testing will be the second step to confirm an active infection. H. pylori positive patients with be treated by bismuth-based quadruple therapy (Protocol I). One month after conclusion of the treatment a control UBT will be used to confirm eradication. Patients with treatment failure will be treated with additional second protocol (Protocol II) according to local recommendations.
  7. National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ), Slovenia: Locally validated H. pylori serology with high sensitivity will be offered to participants. For participants with positive serology test results, additional UBT confirmatory testing will be the second step to confirm an active infection. H. pylori positive patients with be treated by bismuth-based quadruple therapy (Protocol I). One month after the conclusion of the treatment a control UBT will be used to confirm eradication. Patients with treatment failure will be treated with an additional second protocol (Protocol II) according to local recommendations.

The study will be conducted, commencing in 2024 and concluding in 2026. This timeframe has been chosen to allow for participant recruitment, conducting the study and data analysis for a thorough assessment of the feasibility of the proposed screening strategy.

02

Conditions studied

  • Gastric Cancer
  • H Pylori Infection
  • H Pylori Eradication
  • H-pylori

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Keywords

  • H. pylori
  • gastric cancer
  • eradication therapy
  • screening
03

In context

Stomach Neoplasms

3,399 studies on the registry are indexed under Stomach Neoplasms; 992 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 6,800 is above the median of 278 across 790 observational studies indexed under Stomach Neoplasms.

Browse Stomach Neoplasms studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Latvia is the lead sponsor of 8 studies on the registry; 6 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
30 Years to 34 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

Infected adult patients by Helicobacter pylori

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Young adults (generally 30 - 34 years of age)

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with mental or developmental limitations who cannot provide a fully- to participate (based on the assessment from research or patient's personal physician team)
  • Previously treated H. pylori infection
  • History of partial or total gastric resection due to benign or malign lesions
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(1)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

05

Study design

Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
6,800 participants (estimated)
Patient registry
No

Groups and cohorts

  • Protocol I

    H. pylori positive patients who will be treated by bismuth-based quadruple therapy. Participating centers: KBC Rijeka, Croatia; KBC Zagreb, Croatia; Beacon Hospital, Ireland; Uniwersytet medyczny we Wrocławiu, Poland; UMF Cluj-Napoca, Romania; NIJZ, Slovenia

    Drug: Bismuth-based quadruple therapy

  • Protocol II

    In case there will be a treatment failure after bismuth-based quadruple therapy, the remaining patients with a positive infection will be referred to a levofloxacin based quadruple therapy. Participating centers: KBC Rijeka, Croatia; KBC Zagreb, Croatia; Beacon Hospital, Ireland; Uniwersytet medyczny we Wrocławiu, Poland; UMF Cluj-Napoca, Romania; NIJZ, Slovenia

    Drug: Levofloxacin-based quadruple therapy

  • Standard triple therapy

    H. pylori positive participants who will offered standard triple therapy. Participating center: University of Latvia, Latvia

    Drug: Standard triple therapy

  • Second line treatment - levofloxacin-based

    In case there will be a treatment failure after standart triple therapy, the remaining patients with a positive infection will be referred to a second line treatment Participating center: University of Latvia, Latvia

    Drug: Levofloxacin-based triple

Interventions

  • DrugBismuth-based quadruple therapy

    Participants who are positive with H. pylori will receive bismuth-based quadruple therapy: Antibiotic 1 - Amoxicillin 4 x 500 mg or Clarithromycin 2 x 400 mg, Antibiotic 2 - Metronidazole 4 x 400 mg, Proton pump inhibitor - Esomeprazole 2 x 40 mg, Colloidal bismuth - Bismuth oxide 4 x 120 mg.

  • DrugLevofloxacin-based quadruple therapy

    In case there will be a treatment failure after Protocol I is completed, the remaining patients with a positive infection will be referred to a secondary treatment: Antibiotic 1 - Levofloxacin 1 x 500 mg, Antibiotic 2 - Metronidazole 4 x 400 mg, Proton pump inhibitor - Esomeprazole 2 x 40 mg, Colloidal bismuth - Bismuth oxide 4 x 120 mg.

  • DrugStandard triple therapy

    Participants who are positive for H. pylori will receive a standard triple therapy: Antibiotic 1 - Amoxicillin 2 x 1000 mg, Antibiotic 2 - Clarithromycin 2 x 500 mg, Proton pump inhibitor - Esomeprazole 2 x 40 mg.

  • DrugLevofloxacin-based triple

    Participants with treatment failure will be recommended second line treatment - levofloxacin-based: Antibiotic 1 - Levofloxacin 2 x 500 mg, Antibiotic 2 - Amoxicillin 2 x 1000 mg, Proton pump inhibitor - Esomeprazole 2 x 40 mg

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Healthcare workers' assessment of feasibility and acceptability of the proposed practical implementation of a screening program

    Responses to qualitative questions and summary statistics from a post-enrollment questionnaire for healthcare workers involved into the implementation of the screening program.

    Time frame: 1 year

Secondary outcomes

  1. Eradication rate of infection with H. pylori

    Subtraction of 1) participants who were subjected to treatment failure of the primary therapy regimen from 2) all participants with an active H. pylori infection who underwent the quadruple therapy regimen.

    Time frame: 1 year

  2. Description of the adverse events profile

    Qualitative records of all self-reported (or physician-reported) adverse events during and after primary (or secondary) eradication therapy regimen. All non-serious or serious adverse event will be reported.

    Time frame: 1 year

  3. Participation rate of subjects selected for the program

    a) completion of the enrollment process (points a)-d)); b) completion of the prospective study (points e)-h)). Subtraction of 1) study participants who: 1. did not respond to an invitation, 2. signed the informed consent form but were not included in the study due to exclusion criteria, 3. declined to take a serology test, 4. declined to take any of the UBTs as specified in the study protocol, 5. had their therapy postponed due to maternity reasons, 6. declined to be re-treated after the treatment failure of primary therapy, 7. voluntarily withdrew at any time during their participation in the study, 8. withdrew from the study within points a)-g) combined, from 2) all participants invited in the study. The participation rate is measured in frequencies and percentage points (%).

    Time frame: 1 year

07

Study locations

6 of 7 sites recruiting
  • University Hospital Centre Zagreb
    Zagreb, Grad Zagreb 10000, Croatia
    Recruiting
    • Masa Cavlina Sevo, MD · Contactmasa.cavlina@gmail.com · 00385995900847
    • Mirjana Kalauz, Asst. Prof. · Contactmirjanakalauz1@gmail.com · 0038598519088
    • Mirjana Kalauz, Asst. Prof. · Principal investigator
    • Pave Markos, MD, PhD · Sub investigator
    • Tihomir Bradic, MD · Sub investigator
    • Masa Cavlina Sevo, MD · Sub investigator
  • Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka
    Rijeka, 51000, Croatia
    Recruiting
  • Beacon Hospital
    Dublin, D18 AK68, Ireland
    Recruiting
    • Charlene Deane, MB Bch BAO, MSc · Contactcharlene.deane@beaconhospital.ie · 00353879114305
    • Ruth Pilkington, MB BcH BAO · Contactruth.pilkington@beaconhospital.ie · 0035312937521
    • Colm O Morain, MD, MB BcH BAO, FRCPI · Principal investigator
    • Orlaith Kelly, PHD, MB BcH · Sub investigator
    • Charlene Deane, MB Bch BAO, MSc, MRCP · Sub investigator
  • Clinical and Preventive Medicine of the University of Latvia
    Riga, LV1079, Latvia
    Not yet recruiting
    • Marcis Leja, MD, PhD · Contactmarcis.leja@lu.lv · 371+29497500
    • Marcis Leja, MD, PhD · Principal investigator
    • Danute Razuka Ebela, MD, PhD · Sub investigator
    • Linda Mezmale, MD · Sub investigator
  • Wroclaw Medical University
    Wroclaw, 50-367, Poland
    Recruiting
    • Katarzyna Malinowska · Contactk.malinowska@umw.edu.pl · 00487178417 99
    • Elzbieta Olejnik · Contactelzbieta.olejnik@umw.edu.pl · 00717841666
    • Katarzyna Neubauer, MD, PhD, Assoc. Prof. · Principal investigator
    • Radoslaw Kempinski, MD, PhD · Sub investigator
  • Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy
    Cluj-Napoca, Cluj County 400003, Romania
    Recruiting
    • Dan Lucian Dumitrascu, Prof · Contactddumitrascu@umfcluj.ro · 0040722756475
    • Radu Farcas, MD, PhD student · Contactradufr@gmail.com · 0040757554422
    • Radu Farcas, MD, PhD student · Sub investigator
  • National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia
    Ljubljana, 1000, Slovenia
    Recruiting
08

References and documents

Related links

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reachedSimilar studies: half by the dot; the band is the middle halfHalf of similar studies reached it by the dot; the band is the middle half, from a quarter to three quarters

Start is estimated for Mar 2024; primary completion for Oct 2026, 30 months later.

Of 322 non-industry observational studies under Stomach Neoplasms, half reached primary completion within 57 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 29 and three quarters within 171. This study's planned 30 months is below that.

Counting every sponsor, half of 364 studies reached it within 54 months; a quarter within 29 and three quarters within 119.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Feb 8, 2024
First posted
Feb 23, 2024
StartEst.
Mar 4, 2024
Primary completionEst.
Oct 1, 2026
CompletionEst.
Dec 1, 2026
Last update
Mar 5, 2024
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Mar 5, 2024, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT06275204
Lead sponsor
University of Latvia
Collaborators
Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka, Clinical Hospital Centre Zagreb, Beacon Hospital, Wroclaw Medical University, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Feb 23, 2024
Start date
Mar 4, 2024 (estimated)
Primary completion
Oct 1, 2026 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 1, 2026 (estimated)
Last update
Mar 5, 2024

Study contacts

Principal Investigator of the Study - Bojan Tepeš (National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia), Prof., MD
Contact
bojan.tepes@siol.net
0038641325916
Tatjana Kofol Bric (National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia), MD
Contact
Tatjana.Kofol@nijz.si
0038612441484

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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