Publication Name	World Journal of Clinical Oncology
Manuscript ID	125453
Country	Kenya

Category	Oncology
Manuscript Type	Case Control Study
Article Title	Helicobacter pylori virulence gene expression defines a stage-associated transcriptional signature in gastric cancer
Manuscript Source	Unsolicited Manuscript
All Author List	Oliver Mbuthia, Ishrat Mahjabeen, Mahmood Kayani, Azhar Mehmood, Jael Obiero, Takashi Matsumoto, Kefa Bosire and Marianne Mureithi
Funding Agency and Grant Number	Funding Agency Grant Number the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization - The World Academy of Sciences and COMSATS University Islamabad 3240320712
Corresponding Author	Oliver Mbuthia, PhD, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Nairobi, Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi P O Box 30197-00100, Nairobi City, Kenya. oliver.mbuthia@nairobi.msf.org
Key Words	Helicobacter pylori; Gastric cancer; Virulence factors; Transcriptional profiling; Gene expression; Stage-associated transcriptional signature; Disease staging
Core Tip	Standard diagnostic approaches for Helicobacter pylori generally establish whether the organism is present but do not resolve heterogeneity within gastric cancer. This study evaluates an expression-based discrimination model using a combined four-gene virulence transcript signature (cytotoxin-associated gene A, vacuolating cytotoxin A, blood group antigen-binding adhesin A, and induced by contact with epithelium gene A). The model identifies a stage-associated “adherence-to-invasion” transcriptional shift and, through a decision-tree classifier, discriminates early from advanced clinical stages with an area under the curve of 0.867, falling to 0.68 on nested cross-validation, a promising but modest signal warranting external validation.
Citation	Mbuthia O, Mahjabeen I, Kayani M, Mehmood A, Obiero J, Matsumoto T, Bosire K, Mureithi M. Helicobacter pylori virulence gene expression defines a stage-associated transcriptional signature in gastric cancer. World J Clin Oncol 2026; In press

Received	2026-07-09 06:13
Peer-Review Started	2026-07-09 06:13
First Decision by Editorial Office Director
Return for Revision	2026-08-04 02:33
Revised	2026-08-26 09:56
Publication Fee Transferred
Second Decision by Editor	2026-10-08 07:09
Second Decision by Editor-in-Chief
Final Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-10-08 08:34
Articles in Press	2026-10-08 08:34
Edit the Manuscript by Language Editor
Typeset the Manuscript

ISSN	2218-4333 (online)
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