Gastric microenvironment and gastric cancer: Interplay of acid, microbiota, and inflammation

Gastric cancer arises within a complex and dynamic microenvironment shaped by gastric acid secretion, microbial communities, and chronic inflammation. While Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori ) remains the primary etiological factor, recent studies have highlighted the contribution of non-H. pylori microbiota and their interactions with host factors in the progression of gastric carcinogenesis. This review explores the bidirectional interplay among hypochlorhydria, microbial dysbiosis, and mucosal i