Gastrointest Endosc. 2022 Oct 17. pii: S0016-5107(22)02079-X. [Epub ahead of print]
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The true rate of gastric cancer (GC) in Juvenile Polyposis Syndrome (JPS) is unknown due to its rarity and ascertainment bias in published literature. To better assess this, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis.
METHODS: Medline, Embase and Scopus databases were searched for keywords 'Juvenile polyposis syndrome, juvenile polyps, stomach cancer, gastric cancer, SMAD4, BMPR1A, hamartomatous polyposis syndrome, hamartomas and hereditary cancers' for studies reporting upper GI manifestations in JPS. The primary outcome was the reported occurrence of GC in JPS. Secondarily, we compared GC occurrence based on presence or absence of pathogenic germline variants (PGVs) and in untested patients.
RESULTS: Eleven studies including 637 patients were included. The pooled occurrence of GC was 3.5% (95%CI:1.8, 5.2; I2:12.3%) at a median age of 42.5 (range: 15-57.6) years. The pooled occurrence of GC in patients with SMAD4 PGV was 10.1% (95%CI:3.2%, 16.8%, I2:54.7%). GC was only reported in only one BMPR1A PGV carrier, and was not reported in patients without an identifiable PGV.In patients with prior germline testing, the risk of GC was higher in SMAD4 PGV carriers (Odds Ratio:11.6, 95% CI:4.6, 29.4, I2=18.3%) compared to patients without SMAD4 PGV.In JPS patients with unknown status of germline testing, pooled occurrence of GC was 7.5% (95%CI: 0, 15.5%). There was an overall moderate risk of bias in the studies.
CONCLUSION: GC is highest in SMAD4-associated JPS and was not reported in patients without identifiable PGVs. The value of GC surveillance in BMPR1A PGV carriers and JPS patients without an identifiable PGV is questionable. Germline testing should be performed in all JPS patients to inform GC risk discussion and utility of surveillance.
Keywords: BMPR1A; Juvenile polyposis syndrome; SMAD4; gastric cancer; gastric polyposis; hamartomatous polyps; hereditary cancers