title: Genetic conditions associated with intestinal juvenile polyps.
abstract: Juvenile polyps are hamartomatous polyps found primarily in infants and children, and in association with juvenile polyposis (JP; OMIM #174900), Cowden syndrome (CS; OMIM #158350), and Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome (BRRS; OMIM# 153480). Although solitary juvenile polyps are benign lesions, when present in JP patients they may lead to gastrointestinal cancers. Germline mutations in MADH4 and BMPR1A predispose to JP, and both genes are involved in TGF-beta superfamily signaling pathways. In CS and BRRS, juvenile polyps are a less consistent feature, and CS patients are at risk for breast and thyroid cancers. Mutations of the tumor suppressor gene PTEN have been found in the germline of both CS and BRRS patients. Despite different underlying genetic mechanisms, these and other syndromes share the same phenotypic feature of juvenile polyps.
authors.affiliation: Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver Iowa College of Medicine, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Merg
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Howe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D018095:Germ-Line Mutation; D006223:Hamartoma Syndrome, Multiple / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D044483:Intestinal Polyposis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D007417:Intestinal Polyps / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics; D051901:Smad4 Protein; D013577:Syndrome; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C497796:SMAD4 protein, human; D051901:Smad4 Protein; C490810:Smad4 protein, mouse; D015534:Trans-Activators; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; C494929:PTEN protein, human