Angela C. Hirbe, MD, PhD and her colleagues at the Washington University NF Center and the University of California – San Francisco have recently identified a new mutation in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs). They discovered mutations in the BRAF gene – a gene previously implicated in skin cancer (melanoma).
In this new study, Dr. Hirbe demonstrated that BRAF mutations occured in 20% of non-NF1-associated MPNSTs and in 2.7% of MPNSTs arising in people with NF1. This exciting finding suggests that future therapies might block BRAF activity, as has been used for other cancers.
Dr. Hirbe is a Hematology/Oncology fellow currently performing her post-doctoral research in the laboratory of Dr. David Gutmann.
Hirbe AC, Pekmezci M, Dahiya S, Apicelli AJ, VanTine, BA, Perry A, Gutmann DH. BRAFV600E mutation in sporadic and neurofibromatosis type 1-related malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors. Neuro-Oncology. (in press)