RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: H pylori is the main causative agent of Gastric cancer and chronic gastritis. Genetic diversity of H. pylori has major contribution in its pathogenesis. We investigated the prevalence of oipA and iceA1/iceA2 positive strains of H. pylori among patients with gastric cancer and gastritis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sampling performed by means of endoscopy from 86 patients. DNA was extracted from tissue samples using DNA extraction kit. PCR assay was performed and products were monitored by Agarose Gel Electrophoresis. RESULTS: Urease Test and 16S rRNA PCR did not show significant differences in detection of H. pylori. The frequency of iceA1 allele in patients with gastric cancer was significantly higher than those with gastritis (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in prevalence of oipA and iceA2 genes among the two groups of patients (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The iceA1 gene, but the oipA and iceA2 genes , is associated with H. pylori-induced gastric cancer. However, confirmatory studies must be performed in future.