The Prex2 protein is a member of the Rac family proteins that belongs to small G proteins with a critical role in cell migration, cell proliferation, and apoptosis through its effects on phosphatase activity of PTEN protein and PI3K cell signaling pathway. The effect of prex2 gene expression has been shown in some cancer cells. A survey of prex2 gene expression in gastric antral epithelial cells of gastric cancer patients with Helicobacter pylori genotypes infection can conduct to better understanding H. pylori infection's carcinogenesis.

In a case-control study, prex2 gene expression was evaluated in gastric antral biopsy samples on four groups of patients referred to Sanandaj hospitals, including gastritis with (n 23) and without H. pylori infection (n 27) and gastric cancer with (n 21) and without (n 32) H. pylori infection. Each gastric biopsy sample's total RNA was used for cDNA synthesis by Kits (Takara Company), prex2 gene expression was measured using the relative quantitative Real-Time RT PCR method and ΔΔCt formula.

prex2 gene expression increased in gastric antral biopsy samples of gastritis and gastric cancer patients with H. pylori infection (case groups) than without H. pylori infection (control groups 2.3848 and 2.2761 times, respectively.

H. pylori infection can affect inflammation and carcinogenesis by increasing prex2 gene expression in gastric antral epithelial cells.