Study of Disease Severity in Adults With Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1)

Completed

Conditions studied: Neurofibromatosis Type 1, Legius Syndrome

In brief

This study may identify genes that predict the seriousness of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Finding these genes may explain why some people with NF1 have more medical problems than others. The study will also examine medical problems in NF1 that are rarely seen and are not well understood. Male and female patients with NF1 who have gone through puberty may be eligible for this study, as well as patients of any age who have unique or under-recognized disease features. Affected and unaffected family members, including parents, siblings, and more distant relatives, may also be enrolled. Candidates are screened with a discussion of medical history or review of medical records, or both. Participants undergo the following procedures: Patients with NF1 * Physical examination and family history * Photographs of the iris of each eye * Photographs of the back, abdomen and thigh to count skin tumors * Photographs of the face and body (with underwear on) to help track growth and appearance * Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine (This test uses a magnetic field and radio waves to look for tumors and curvature of the spine. The patient lies still in the scanner, a narrow cylindrical device, wearing earplugs to muffle loud knocking sounds that occur during the scan. A contrast material called gadolinium is injected into a vein through a catheter to enhance the images.) * Blood draw for genetic studies * Possibly a skin biopsy (with the use of numbing medicine, removal of a small sample of skin tissue) to grow cells in the laboratory Patients with NF1 who have unique or under-recognized disease features * Physical examination and family history * Blood draw for genetic studies * Possibly a skin biopsy * Possibly additional tests, such as blood work, x-rays, photographs, MRIs, ultrasounds, or other tests Unaffected family members * Blood draw for genetic studies * Brief skin and eye examinations * Possibly a skin biopsy for cell culture Families are asked to give permission for researchers to recontact them for follow-up information, additional blood samples, or follow-up visit.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT00111384

Run by

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

People needed

313

Starts

2005-07-27

Last updated by the study team

2026-08-07

Who can join

Age: 2 and older, up to 100. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may not qualify if…

• EXCLUSION CRITERIA FOR GROUP A INDIVIDUALS INCLUDE:
• Any history of administration (or current use) of radiation therapy, chemotherapeutic agents or biologic agents (experimental or not) that resulted in a documented significant change in spinal neurofibroma tumor burden or growth.
• Any history of administration (or current use) of medication that might reasonably be expected to alter the natural history of tumor growth (examples include pirfenidone, interferon, farnesyl transferase inhibitor (FTI), MTX/VBL, thalidomide, growth hormone) or cause significant changes in gene expression profile.
• Any history of surgery to significantly debulk spinal neurofibromas
• Pregnancy/Lactation. If an affected pregnant or lactating woman is eligible for participation, we will request that she enroll after the conclusion of the pregnancy or lactation.
• Cognitive delay in an adult or minor to the extent that sedation is required to obtain MRI.
• Presence or suspected presence of hardware (Harrington rods) or metallic objects (e.g. shrapnel, aneurysm clips) or history of exposure to such objects (e.g. welding) that preclude MRI imaging.
• Inability or unwillingness to tolerate a 1-hour (or more) MRI protocol.
• Patients will be excluded if they cannot travel to the NIH because of their medical condition OR are less than 2 years of age. The PI may decline to enroll a patient for other reasons.
• EXCLUSION CRITERIA FOR GROUP B INDIVIDUALS INCLUDE:
• A non-affected pregnant or lactating woman in a family for whom LCL immortalization will not be performed may participate. However, if she is a member of a multi-affected family (and thus her blood will be used to prepare LCLs) we will request that she donate a blood sample at the conclusion of her pregnancy or upon the weaning of her child.
• EXCLUSION CRITERIA FOR GROUP C INDIVIDUALS INCLUDE:
• Less than 2 years of age.
• EXCLUSION CRITERIA FOR HEALTHY, NORMAL VOLUNTEERS INCLUDE:
• Pregnancy or lactation (a serum HCG level will be drawn on all child-bearing age women). Women unwilling to have a serum pregnancy test cannot participate.
• Any history of spine surgery or significant spinal disease (severe arthritis, autoimmune disorders, severe scoliosis, kyphosis or lordosis, cancer, NF1, NF2, or schwannomatosis)
• Any active spine-related complaints: e.g. persistent back pain, radicular symptoms
• Clinically significant medical condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would compromise the patient's safety or affect his/her MRI (e.g., diabetes mellitus, chronic hypertension, severe anemia, kidney disease, heart disease [angina, arrhythmias, congestive heart failure]).
• Previous eye surgery of any kind.
• Inability to provide informed consent.
• Permanent tattooed makeup (eyeliner, lip, etc) or general tattoos. Subjects with tattoos will be excluded if those are in a dangerous location in the body or made with colors (e.g. dark blue and dark green) whose content in iron cannot be definitely ruled out by the Investigators.
• Any non-organic implant or any other device such as: cardiac pacemaker, insulin infusion pump, implanted drug infusion device, cochlear, otologic, or ear implant, transdermal medication patch (Nitro, hormones) that may cause problems if removed even temporarily, any metallic implants or objects, body piercing(s), bone/joint pin, screw, nail, plate, wire sutures or surgical staples, shunt.
• Cerebral or other aneurysm clips.
• Shrapnel or other metal imbedded in the subject's body (such as from war wounds or accidents).
• Previous work in metal fields or with machines that may have left any metallic fragments in or near the subject's eyes.

Where it is running

• National Institutes of Health Clinical Center — Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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