Identification of a novel PTEN mutation (L139X) in a patient with Cowden disease and Sjogren's syndrome

Cowden disease is an autosomal dominant disorder associated with an increas ed risk of breast, thyroid, and skin cancer in which germline mutations in a candidate tumour suppressor gene (PTEN) have been identified previously. Sjogren's syndrome is a chronic inflammatory and autoimmune disorder of exo crine glands for which the genetic basis is unknown. This report describes a novel PTEN mutation (L139X) in a patient with Cowden disease and Sjogren' s syndrome. This observation raises the possibility of a link between mutat ions in the PTEN gene and Sjogren's syndrome.