Neurofibromatosis Type 1NCT00924196
Natural History Study of Patients With Neurofibromatosis Type I
An observational study of Neurofibromatosis Type 1 and Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor, run by National Cancer Institute (NCI) at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Background: Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) is a genetic disorder in which patients are at increased risk of developing tumors (usually non-cancerous) of the central and peripheral nervous system. The disease affects essentially every organ system. The natural course of NFI over time is poorly understood. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 4 weeks and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Neurofibromatosis Type 1, Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor, Plexiform Neurofibroma
- How many people
- 259 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 25 Feb 2008to not given
- Phase
- Observational
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 4 weeks and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Study population: Individuals with a confirmed clinical diagnosis of NF1 or a confirmed NF1 mutation; unaffected siblings and biologic parents of the individuals with NFI who enroll in the study.
Who may be able to join
- 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.
- 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):
- Six or more cafe-au-lait spots (>=0.5 cm in prepubertal subjects or >=1.5 cm in postpubertal subjects)
Show all 15Show fewer
- >= 2 neurofibromas or 1 plexiform neurofibroma
- Freckling in the axilla or groin
- Optic glioma
- Two or more Lisch nodules
- A distinctive bony lesion (dysplasia of the sphenoid bone or dysplasia or thinning of long bone cortex)
- A first-degree relative with NF1
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Who cannot join
- In the opinion of the investigator the patient is not able to return for follow-up visits or obtain required follow-up studies.
- In the opinion of the investigator the patient is not able to obtain an MRI scan.
- 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.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland, 20892
About this study
Official title: Natural History Study and Longitudinal Assessment of Children, Adolescents, and Adults With Neurofibromatosis Type 1
Background:
Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) is a genetic disorder in which patients are at increased risk of developing tumors (usually non-cancerous) of the central and peripheral nervous system. The disease affects essentially every organ system.
Read more
The natural course of NFI over time is poorly understood. For most patients the only treatment option is surgery. A better understanding of NF1 may be helpful for the design of future treatment studies.
Objectives:
To evaluate people with NF1 over 10 years in order to better understand the natural history of the disease.
To characterize the patient population and to examine how NFI affects patients quality of life and function.
Eligibility:
Children, adolescents, and adults with NF1.
Design:
Participants have a comprehensive baseline evaluation including genetic testing, tumor imaging, pain and quality-of-life assessments, and neuropsychological, motor and endocrine evaluations.
Patients are monitored every 6 months to every 3 years, depending on their individual findings at the baseline study. Tests may include the following, as appropriate:
- Medical history, physical examination and blood tests.
- Whole body and face photography to monitor visible deformities.
- Neuropsychological testing, quality-of-life evaluations, motor function tests, endocrinologic evaluations, heart and lung function tests, hearing tests, bone density scans and other bone evaluations.
- MRI and PET scans to detect and assess plexiform neurofibromas (tumors that arise from nerves and can cause serious problems), paraspinal neurofibromas (tumors that arise from nerves around the spine and can cause problems by compressing the spinal cord), and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (a type of cancer that arises from a peripheral nerve or involves the sheath covering the nerve).
- Eye exams, MRI scans and PET scans to evaluate optic pathway gliomas (tumors arising from the vision nerves or the brain areas for vision) and the chemicals within the tumor and brain.
- Eye exams and photographs to evaluate the development of Lisch nodules (non-cancerous tumors on the eye).
- Photographs of dermal neurofibromas (tumors of the skin), cafe-au-lait spots (dark or pigmented areas on the skin that are often the first signs of NF1) and other skin problems.
- Pain evaluations to monitor the different types of pain patients experience, causes of the pain, how often the pain occurs, effect of the pain on quality of life, and what pain medications and alternative treatments, such as acupuncture, are effective.
Read the detailed description
Background
Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant, progressive genetic disorder characterized by diverse clinical manifestations. Patients with NF1 have an increased risk of developing tumors of the central and peripheral nervous system including plexiform neurofibromas (PN), dermal neurofibromas, optic pathway tumors, brain tumors, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST), juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia, and pheochromocytomas. In addition, NF1 manifests in essentially every organ system, with for example, skeletal and vascular abnormalities, and cognitive deficits. Thus, the care for individuals with NF1 requires a multidisciplinary approach. The natural history of NF1 related tumor and other manifestations is poorly understood, and for most NF1 related tumor manifestations the only standard treatment option is surgery. The NIH Clinical Center provides the ideal infrastructure for evaluation of the natural history of rare diseases. A better understanding of the natural history of NF1 related tumor and other manifestations will be helpful for the design of treatment studies. The NCI, POB has an active clinical trials program for NF1 related tumor manifestations including PN, MPNST. Unlike individuals with refractory solid cancers, individuals with NF1 have near normal life expectancy, and their benign tumors progress more slowly than solid cancers. Individuals with NF1 may thus participate in multiple treatment trials.
Objectives
The overall purpose of this descriptive NF1 Natural History study is to serve as an umbrella protocol for the ongoing NF1 clinical trials program to allow the longitudinal evaluation of individuals with NF1 for NF1 related tumor and non-tumor manifestations irrespective whether they are currently enrolled on a treatment study or not, and to develop a better understanding of the biology of NF1 related manifestations. Following these patients longitudinally will allow investigators to develop a better understanding of the natural history of these manifestations, provide the basis for the development of endpoints for clinical trials and to potentially develop more effective treatments. NF1 manifestations, which will be followed longitudinally, include PN, MPNST, optic pathway tumors, dermal neurofibromas, NF1 associated pain, and neuropsychological, motor, and endocrine function. Patient samples will be collected to investigate the existence of a peripherally detectable disease progression biomarker. A comprehensive treatment plan and recommendations will be developed and communicated with the patient and primary caregivers.
Eligibility
Children, adolescents, and adults with a confirmed clinical diagnosis of NF1 or a confirmed NF1 mutation.
Design
Attempts will be made to have all individuals undergo a comprehensive baseline evaluation including clinical phenotyping, genotyping, imaging of tumor manifestations, and pain, quality of life, neuropsychological, motor, and endocrine evaluations. The NF1 manifestations will be longitudinally monitored with a frequency of every year to every three years, with the extent and timing of follow-up evaluations depending on the findings at baseline.
- Conditions
- Neurofibromatosis Type 1, Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor, Plexiform Neurofibroma, Optic Glioma, Neurofibroma
- Keywords
- Plexiform Neurofibroma, Optic Pathway Tumor, Neurofibroma, Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor, Volumetric MRI, Natural History, Neurofibromatosis Type 1, NF1, Optic Glioma
- Medical subject headings
- Neurofibromatosis 1, Neurofibrosarcoma, Neurofibroma, Plexiform, Optic Nerve Glioma, Neurofibroma
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Biologic parents of children and adults with NFI | Biologic parents of children and adults with NFI will be evaluated at one time point, using a Neuropsychological Test Battery and QOL Assessment. Closed to enrollment | |
| Children and adults with NFI | Children and adults with NFI whose tumor and non tumor related manifestations will be longitudinally evaluated. Closed to enrollment | |
| Unaffected siblings of children and adults with NFI | Unaffected siblings of children and adults with NFI will be evaluated at one time point using a Neuropsychological Test Battery and QOL Assessment. Closed to enrollment |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
To serve as an umbrella protocol for the ongoing NF1 clinical trials program to longitudinally characterize and analyze NF1 related tumor and non-tumor manifestations, and to develop a better understanding of the biology of NF1 related manifesta...
Characterized features will be described and presented.
Measured: throughout the study
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted18 Jun 2009 (estimated)
- Study start25 Feb 2008
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (7)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Neurofibromatosis Type 1Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by National Cancer Institute (NCI)The sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 259 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Sponsor type
- US National Institutes of Health
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Brigitte C Widemann, M.D., Principal investigator, National Cancer Institute (NCI)
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00924196
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 080079
- Other IDs
- 08-C-0079
- Status last verified
- 22 Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 17 Jun 2009
- Last updated
- 16 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: All IPD recorded in the medical record will be shared with intramural investigators upon request.
Publications
Ferner RE. Neurofibromatosis 1 and neurofibromatosis 2: a twenty first century perspective. Lancet Neurol. 2007 Apr;6(4):340-51. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(07)70075-3.
PubMed 17362838Korf BR. Clinical features and pathobiology of neurofibromatosis 1. J Child Neurol. 2002 Aug;17(8):573-7; discussion 602-4, 646-51. doi: 10.1177/088307380201700806.
PubMed 12403555Kim A, Gillespie A, Dombi E, Goodwin A, Goodspeed W, Fox E, Balis FM, Widemann BC. Characteristics of children enrolled in treatment trials for NF1-related plexiform neurofibromas. Neurology. 2009 Oct 20;73(16):1273-9. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e3181bd1326.
PubMed 19841379Al Ghriwati N, Little P, Martin S, Tamula MA, Widemann BC, Wolters PL. Parent-child discrepancies in reports of child psychosocial functioning in neurofibromatosis type 1. J Fam Psychol. 2025 Feb;39(1):99-106. doi: 10.1037/fam0001256. Epub 2024 Oct 17.
PubMed 39418437Curry BP, Alvarez R, Widemann BC, Johnson M, Agarwal PK, Lehky T, Valera V, Chittiboina P. Robotic Nerve Sheath Tumor Resection With Intraoperative Neuromonitoring: Case Series and Systematic Review. Oper Neurosurg. 2022 Feb 1;22(2):44-50. doi: 10.1227/ONS.0000000000000051.
PubMed 35007270Akshintala S, Baldwin A, Liewehr DJ, Goodwin A, Blakeley JO, Gross AM, Steinberg SM, Dombi E, Widemann BC. Longitudinal evaluation of peripheral nerve sheath tumors in neurofibromatosis type 1: growth analysis of plexiform neurofibromas and distinct nodular lesions. Neuro Oncol. 2020 Sep 29;22(9):1368-1378. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/noaa053.
PubMed 32152628Dagalakis U, Lodish M, Dombi E, Sinaii N, Sabo J, Baldwin A, Steinberg SM, Stratakis CA, Widemann BC. Puberty and plexiform neurofibroma tumor growth in patients with neurofibromatosis type I. J Pediatr. 2014 Mar;164(3):620-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2013.10.081. Epub 2013 Dec 8.
PubMed 24321536