Tracing Early Molecular Drivers of Gastrinoma in MEN1: A Systematic Review for Precision Surveillance and Improved Patient Outcomes
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Objective
This study aims to investigate the increased risk in Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 1 patients to develop gastrinomas later in life. It focuses on the mechanisms that may come into play in duodenal enteroendocrine cells to result in gastrinoma development. By identifying key regulators involved, this study seeks to contribute towards future biomarker development and guide surveillance strategies in MEN1 patients to improve patient outcomes. Clinically, these insights may inform the development of gene expression–based surveillance tools that could be integrated into routine endoscopic or biopsy-based assessments for MEN1 patients.
Background
Gastrinomas, commonly associated with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 1 (MEN1), are neuroendocrine tumors arising from duodenal enteroendocrine cells. The development and differentiation of these cells are also governed by transcription factors and signaling pathway. Loss of MEN1 disrupts this regulatory network, leading to cellular mis-specification, impaired differentiation, and increased risk of tumorigenesis. Understanding these early molecular events is clinically significant, as it may aid in identifying high-risk MEN1 patients, refining surveillance protocols, and guiding the development of targeted therapies for conditions such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
Methods
Databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and both open-access and subscription-based journals, were searched without date restrictions to investigate how the loss of MEN1 on developmental regulators (NEUROG3, ASCL1, PAX4, PAX6, ISL1, NKX2.2, INSM1, ARX, Notch, Wnt, BMP, Shh, MAPK/ERK, mTOR) of duodenal enteroendocrine cells, results in gastrinoma development. Studies meeting the criteria outlined in the methods section were systematically reviewed to address the research question. This study adheres to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines.
Results
Mutated MEN1 disrupts the expression of key transcription factors (NEUROG3, ASCL1, PAX4, PAX6, ISL1, NKX2.2, INSM1, ARX) and signaling pathways (Notch, Wnt, BMP, Shh, MAPK/ERK, mTOR) that govern the development and differentiation of duodenal neuroendocrine (enteroendocrine) cells. This dysregulation results in impaired cell fate specification, abnormal differentiation, and uncontrolled proliferation, events that collectively drive gastrinoma formation. These alterations may serve as early biomarkers for disease progression in MEN1 patients and offer potential targets for improved surveillance and personalized intervention strategies.
Conclusion
These findings highlight the critical role of MEN1 in maintaining epithelial homeostasis and suggest that molecular profiling of dysregulated transcription factors and signaling pathways may support early detection, risk stratification, and targeted surveillance in MEN1 patients. The loss of MEN1 impairs cell fate specification and differentiation, promoting abnormal proliferation and increasing the risk of gastrinoma formation. In the future, these insights may contribute to improved diagnostic strategies and the development of personalized therapeutic approaches, ultimately enhancing clinical outcomes for patients with MEN1-associated gastrinomas.
