The main risk factor for gastric cancer is the bacterium H. pylori. In 2005, Australian researchers Barry Marshall and Robin Warren were awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for the discovery of the bacterium H. pylori.Prior to their finding, lifestyle and stress were hypothesized to be the major risk factors in peptic ulcer disease. In 1985, Marshall deliberately infected himself with the bacterium to demonstrate that it caused acute gastritis. Thanks to their work, we now know that up to 80% of gastric ulcers are caused by H. pylori.
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