Allelic deletion of the <i>MEN1</i> gene in duodenal gastrin and somatostatin cell neoplasms and their precursor lesions

Abstract

Allelic deletion of the MEN1 gene may reflect a pivotal event in the development of multifocal gastrin and somatostatin cell neoplasms in the duodenum of patients with MEN1. The observation of distinct deletion patterns in small synchronous tumours supports the concept that each gastrin-producing tumour in an individual MEN1 patient arises from an independent cell clone.