10-Year NF1 study aims to unlock secrets of rare genetic disorder

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

* ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA PATIENT INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Age: * \<= 35 years of age for all new patients (except NF1-GIST) evaluated at NIH * No upper age limit for patients previously enrolled on clinical trials at NIH or for patients diagnosed with MPNST, or with clinical concern for MPNST, or with infrequent or unusual NF1 related manifestations. No upper age limit for patients with NF1-GIST. 2. Diagnosis: Patients who are diagnosed with NF1 using the NIH Consensus Conference criteria or have a confirmed NF1 mutation with analysis performed in a CLIA-certified laboratory. NF1 mutation testing to confirm eligibility will not be performed on this protocol, but as part of a separate screening study. Histologic confirmation of NF1 related benign tumors is not necessary in the presence of consistent clinical and radiographic findings but is required for individuals with MPNST who enroll on this study. For the clinical diagnosis of NF1 all study subjects must have at two or more diagnostic criteria for NF1 listed below (NIH Consensus Conference): 1. Six or more cafe-au-lait spots (\>=0.5 cm in prepubertal subjects or \>=1.5 cm in postpubertal subjects) 2. \>= 2 neurofibromas or 1 plexiform neurofibroma 3. Freckling in the axilla or groin 4. Optic glioma 5. Two or more Lisch nodules 6. A distinctive bony lesion (dysplasia of the sphenoid bone or dysplasia or thinning of long bone cortex) 7. A first-degree relative with NF1 3. Prior and current therapy: For NF1 related benign tumor manifestations there is no standard effective medical treatment, and surgery is the only standard treatment. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are additional treatment options for malignant NF1 related tumors. For the purpose of this study, subjects who have not previously received medical or surgical treatment, patients who have previously received medical or surgical treatment, and subjects who are currently receiving medical treatment and or radiation for a NF1 related manifestation will be eligible. Prior and current treatment for NF1 related manifestations will be recorded at trial entry and throughout the study. 4. Performance Status: ECOG \<= 3. Subjects who are wheelchair bound because of paralysis will be considered ambulatory when they are up in their wheelchair. Subjects have to be able to travel to the NIH for evaluations. 5. Informed Consent: All patients or their legal guardians (if the patients is\<18 years old) must sign an IRB-approved document of informed consent to demonstrate their understanding of the investigational nature and the risks of this study before any protocolrelated studies are performed. When appropriate, pediatric subjects will be included in all discussions. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. In the opinion of the investigator the patient is not able to return for follow-up visits or obtain required follow-up studies. 2. In the opinion of the investigator the patient is not able to obtain an MRI scan. 3. Individuals who are pregnant or breast feeding or who become pregnant while enrolled on this trial will not be excluded from participation but will not undergo radiographic evaluations or MRI scans requested for research purposes, or other studies which might negatively impact on the pregnancy.