Review: multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, sporadic neuroendocrine tumors, and MENIN.

Since the identification and cloning of the gene responsible for the inherited syndrome multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) in 1997, important advances in the understanding of the disease, the encoded protein (MENIN) and its role in the development of sporadic neuroendocrine and other neoplasms have been made. In this review, the most important recently published data on the pathology of the MEN1 syndrome, alterations of the MEN1 gene in affected families, and sporadic neuroendocrine tumors and the possible function of MENIN will be summarized.