Cowden Syndrome

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This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/cowden-syndrome

Cowden syndrome is a disorder characterized by multiple noncancerous, tumor-like growths called hamartomas and an increased risk of developing certain cancers.

genetic conditions

1. Introduction

Almost everyone with Cowden syndrome develops hamartomas. These growths are most commonly found on the skin and mucous membranes (such as the lining of the mouth and nose), but they can also occur in the intestine and other parts of the body. The growth of hamartomas on the skin and mucous membranes typically becomes apparent by a person's late twenties.

Cowden syndrome is associated with an increased risk of developing several types of cancer, particularly cancers of the breast, a gland in the lower neck called the thyroid, and the lining of the uterus (the endometrium). Other cancers that have been identified in people with Cowden syndrome include colorectal cancer, kidney cancer, and a form of skin cancer called melanoma. Compared with the general population, people with Cowden syndrome develop these cancers at younger ages, often beginning in their thirties or forties. Other diseases of the breast, thyroid, and endometrium are also common in Cowden syndrome. Additional signs and symptoms can include an enlarged head (macrocephaly) and a rare, noncancerous brain tumor called Lhermitte-Duclos disease. A small percentage of affected individuals have delayed development or intellectual disability.

The features of Cowden syndrome overlap with those of another disorder called Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome. People with Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome also develop hamartomas and other noncancerous tumors. Both conditions can be caused by mutations in the PTEN gene. Some people with Cowden syndrome have had relatives diagnosed with Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome, and other individuals have had the characteristic features of both conditions. Based on these similarities, researchers have proposed that Cowden syndrome and Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome represent a spectrum of overlapping features known as PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome instead of two distinct conditions.

Some people have some of the characteristic features of Cowden syndrome, particularly the cancers associated with this condition, but do not meet the strict criteria for a diagnosis of Cowden syndrome. These individuals are often described as having Cowden-like syndrome.

2. Frequency

Although the exact prevalence of Cowden syndrome is unknown, researchers estimate that it affects about 1 in 200,000 people.

3. Causes

Changes involving at least four genes, PTEN, SDHB, SDHD, and KLLN, have been identified in people with Cowden syndrome or Cowden-like syndrome.

Most cases of Cowden syndrome and a small percentage of cases of Cowden-like syndrome result from mutations in the PTEN gene. The protein produced from the PTEN gene is a tumor suppressor, which means that it normally prevents cells from growing and dividing (proliferating) too rapidly or in an uncontrolled way. Mutations in the PTEN gene prevent the protein from regulating cell proliferation effectively, leading to uncontrolled cell division and the formation of hamartomas and cancerous tumors. The PTEN gene likely has other important functions within cells; however, it is unclear how mutations in this gene cause the other features of Cowden syndrome, such as macrocephaly and intellectual disability.

Other cases of Cowden syndrome and Cowden-like syndrome result from changes involving the KLLN gene. This gene provides instructions for making a protein called killin. Like the protein produced from the PTEN gene, killin probably acts as a tumor suppressor. The genetic change that causes Cowden syndrome and Cowden-like syndrome is known as promoter hypermethylation. The promoter is a region of DNA near the gene that controls gene activity (expression). Hypermethylation occurs when too many small molecules called methyl groups are attached to the promoter region. The extra methyl groups reduce the expression of the KLLN gene, which means that less killin is produced. A reduced amount of killin may allow abnormal cells to survive and proliferate inappropriately, which can lead to the formation of tumors.

A small percentage of people with Cowden syndrome or Cowden-like syndrome have variations in the SDHB or SDHD gene. These genes provide instructions for making parts of an enzyme called succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), which is important for energy production in the cell. This enzyme also plays a role in signaling pathways that regulate cell survival and proliferation. Variations in the SDHB or SDHD gene alter the function of the SDH enzyme. Studies suggest that the defective enzyme may allow cells to grow and divide unchecked, leading to the formation of hamartomas and cancerous tumors. However, researchers are uncertain whether the identified SDHB and SDHD gene variants are directly associated with Cowden syndrome and Cowden-like syndrome. Some of the variants described above have also been identified in people without the features of these conditions.

When Cowden syndrome and Cowden-like syndrome are not related to changes in the PTEN, SDHB, SDHD, or KLLN genes, the cause of the conditions is unknown.

4. Inheritance

Cowden syndrome and Cowden-like syndrome are inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, which means one copy of the altered gene in each cell is sufficient to cause the condition and increase the risk of developing cancer. In some cases, an affected person inherits the mutation from one affected parent. Other cases may result from new mutations in the gene. These cases occur in people with no history of the disorder in their family.

5. Other Names for This Condition

CD
Cowden disease
Cowden's disease
Cowden's syndrome
CS
MHAM
multiple hamartoma syndrome

References

Bennett KL, Mester J, Eng C. Germline epigenetic regulation of KILLIN inCowden and Cowden-like syndrome. JAMA. 2010 Dec 22;304(24):2724-31. doi:10.1001/jama.2010.1877.
Blumenthal GM, Dennis PA. PTEN hamartoma tumor syndromes. Eur J Hum Genet.2008 Nov;16(11):1289-300. doi: 10.1038/ejhg.2008.162.
de Jong MM, Nolte IM, te Meerman GJ, van der Graaf WT, Oosterwijk JC,Kleibeuker JH, Schaapveld M, de Vries EG. Genes other than BRCA1 and BRCA2involved in breast cancer susceptibility. J Med Genet. 2002 Apr;39(4):225-42.Review.
Eng C. PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome. 2001 Nov 29 [updated 2016 Jun 2]. In:Adam MP, Ardinger HH, Pagon RA, Wallace SE, Bean LJH, Stephens K, Amemiya A,editors. GeneReviews® [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington,Seattle; 1993-2020. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1488/
Eng C. PTEN: one gene, many syndromes. Hum Mutat. 2003 Sep;22(3):183-98.Review.
Eng C. Will the real Cowden syndrome please stand up: revised diagnosticcriteria. J Med Genet. 2000 Nov;37(11):828-30.
Hobert JA, Eng C. PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome: an overview. Genet Med. 2009 Oct;11(10):687-94. doi: 10.1097/GIM.0b013e3181ac9aea. Review.
Marsh DJ, Kum JB, Lunetta KL, Bennett MJ, Gorlin RJ, Ahmed SF, Bodurtha J,Crowe C, Curtis MA, Dasouki M, Dunn T, Feit H, Geraghty MT, Graham JM Jr, HodgsonSV, Hunter A, Korf BR, Manchester D, Miesfeldt S, Murday VA, Nathanson KL, ParisiM, Pober B, Romano C, Eng C, et al. PTEN mutation spectrum and genotype-phenotypecorrelations in Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome suggest a single entity withCowden syndrome. Hum Mol Genet. 1999 Aug;8(8):1461-72.
Ni Y, He X, Chen J, Moline J, Mester J, Orloff MS, Ringel MD, Eng C. Germline SDHx variants modify breast and thyroid cancer risks in Cowden and Cowden-likesyndrome via FAD/NAD-dependant destabilization of p53. Hum Mol Genet. 2012 Jan15;21(2):300-10. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddr459.
Ni Y, Zbuk KM, Sadler T, Patocs A, Lobo G, Edelman E, Platzer P, Orloff MS,Waite KA, Eng C. Germline mutations and variants in the succinate dehydrogenasegenes in Cowden and Cowden-like syndromes. Am J Hum Genet. 2008 Aug;83(2):261-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2008.07.011.
Pilarski R, Eng C. Will the real Cowden syndrome please stand up (again)?Expanding mutational and clinical spectra of the PTEN hamartoma tumour syndrome. J Med Genet. 2004 May;41(5):323-6. Review.
Tan MH, Mester J, Peterson C, Yang Y, Chen JL, Rybicki LA, Milas K, PedersonH, Remzi B, Orloff MS, Eng C. A clinical scoring system for selection of patientsfor PTEN mutation testing is proposed on the basis of a prospective study of 3042probands. Am J Hum Genet. 2011 Jan 7;88(1):42-56. doi:10.1016/j.ajhg.2010.11.013.
Tan MH, Mester JL, Ngeow J, Rybicki LA, Orloff MS, Eng C. Lifetime cancerrisks in individuals with germline PTEN mutations. Clin Cancer Res. 2012 Jan15;18(2):400-7. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-11-2283.
Zbuk KM, Eng C. Cancer phenomics: RET and PTEN as illustrative models. Nat RevCancer. 2007 Jan;7(1):35-45.
Zhou XP, Waite KA, Pilarski R, Hampel H, Fernandez MJ, Bos C, Dasouki M,Feldman GL, Greenberg LA, Ivanovich J, Matloff E, Patterson A, Pierpont ME, RussoD, Nassif NT, Eng C. Germline PTEN promoter mutations and deletions inCowden/Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome result in aberrant PTEN protein anddysregulation of the phosphoinositol-3-kinase/Akt pathway. Am J Hum Genet. 2003Aug;73(2):404-11.

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Nicole Yin

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Table of Contents

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1. Introduction

2. Frequency

3. Causes

4. Inheritance

5. Other Names for This Condition

References

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1. Introduction

2. Frequency

3. Causes

3.1. The Genes Associated with Cowden Syndrome

4. Inheritance

5. Other Names for This Condition

References