Targeting the Mechanisms Underlying Cutaneous Neurofibroma Formation in NF1: A Clinical Translational Approach.

Skin tumors in Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) are very common and diminish quality of life. Apart from surgery, very few treatment options exist. In comparison to other types of tumors in NF1, skin tumors receive less attention in the research world because they almost never turn into cancer. Under the microscope, skin tumors and plexiform tumors look similar, however they do not share the same growth potential, nor do they appear at the same time during development. These differences suggest that skin tumors are driven by different factors than plexiform tumors.

In this study the investigators will be harvesting CNFs from 3 groups of subjects in order to obtain a minimum of 18 tumors in three size categories: <5mm, 5-10mm, and >1cm. These sizes were selected based on the variable natural history of CNF progression where incipient lesions (typically <5mm) are more numerous and demonstrate a less aggressive growth pattern, whereas the intermediate group (5-10mm) represent a transition state towards growth to larger (>1cm) lesions. Interestingly, CNF growth tends to stall out at 3cm. The investigators plan to do experiments that identify which factors are important to CNF progression, and then find matching drugs that can shrink the tumors.