Abstract: Objective To investigate the relationship between the expression of mucoprotein2 (MUC2), mucoprotein6 (MUC6) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in gastric cancer, precancerous state and mucosal lesions with Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection. 
Methods Fifty patients with gastric adenocarcinoma and 50 patients with precancerous state and lesions were selected. Pathological examination showed atrophy of glands, dysplasia or intestinal metaplasia. In addition, 50 patients with chronic non-atrophic gastritis under gastroscope were selected as the control group. Pathology showed no gland atrophy, dysplasia, or intestinal metaplasia. EGFR, MUC2 and MUC6 expression levels were detected by immunohistochemistry, and rapid urease test and histologically modified Giemsa staining were used to detect Hp. The relationship between the expression of EGFR, MUC2, MUC6 and Hp infection was analyzed. 
Results Compared with the control group, the positive rates of MUC2, Hp, and EGFR in the gastric cancer group and precancerous state and lesion group were higher, while the positive rates of MUC6 were lower, with statistically significant differences (P＜0.05). Compared with the precancerous state and lesion group, the gastric cancer group had a higher positive rate of MUC2, Hp, and EGFR, and a lower positive rate of MUC6, with a statistically significant difference (P＜0.05). The positive rates of MUC2 and EGFR in the Hp positive gastric cancer group and precancerous state and lesion group were higher than those in the Hp negative group, while the positive rates of MUC6 were lower than those in the HP negative group, with statistical significance (P＜0.05). The positive expression rates of MUC2 and EGFR were positively correlated with Hp infection, while the positive expression rates of MUC6 were negatively correlated with Hp infection (P＜0.05). 
Conclusion Hp infection can increase the expression of MUC2 and EGFR in vivo and decrease the expression of MUC6, which plays a very important role in the development of gastric cancer. Detecting Hp and the expression of MUC2, MUC6, EGFR can identify high-risk groups of gastric cancer.

Key words: stomach neoplasms, gastric mucins, Helicobacter pylori infection