Cowden syndrome: what oncology nurses need to know about increased risk of developing certain cancers

Oncol Nurs Forum. 2014 Sep;41(5):555-7. doi: 10.1188/14.ONF.555-557.

Abstract

Cowden syndrome (CS) is a genetic disorder characterized by multiple benign tissue growths (i.e., hamartomas) and an increased risk of developing specific cancers, such as breast, thyroid, kidney, endometrial, or colorectal cancer (Genetics Home Reference, 2012). This genetic syndrome was named after a person diagnosed with the disorder (Lloyd & Dennis, 1963). CS is part of a larger syndrome called PTEN hamartomatous syndrome, which also includes Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome, PTEN-related Proteus syndrome, and Proteus-like syndrome (Eng, 2014).

Keywords: Cowden syndrome; breast cancer; cancer prevention; genetic cancer syndromes; risk management.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Early Detection of Cancer
  • Female
  • Genes, Dominant
  • Genes, Tumor Suppressor
  • Genetic Heterogeneity
  • Hamartoma Syndrome, Multiple / diagnosis
  • Hamartoma Syndrome, Multiple / epidemiology
  • Hamartoma Syndrome, Multiple / genetics*
  • Hamartoma Syndrome, Multiple / nursing
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Oncology Nursing / education
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / genetics
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Risk
  • Succinate Dehydrogenase / genetics
  • Symptom Assessment
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • KLLN protein, human
  • SDHD protein, human
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • SDHB protein, human
  • Succinate Dehydrogenase
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase
  • PTEN protein, human