title: Back to the future: proceedings from the 2010 NF Conference.
abstract: The neurofibromatoses (NF) encompass the rare diseases NF1, NF2, and schwannomatosis. The NFs affect 100,000 Americans; over 2 million persons worldwide; and are caused by mutation of tumor suppressor genes. Individuals with NF1 in particular may develop tumors anywhere in the nervous system; additional manifestations can include learning disabilities, bone dysplasia, cardiovascular defects, unmanageable pain, and physical disfigurement. Ultimately, the NFs can cause blindness, deafness, severe morbidity, and increased mortality and NF1 includes a risk of malignant cancer. Today there is no treatment for the NFs (other than symptomatic); however, research efforts to understand these genetic conditions have made tremendous strides in the past few years. Progress is being made on all fronts, from discovery studies-understanding the molecular signaling deficits that cause the manifestations of NF-to the growth of preclinical drug screening initiatives and the emergence of a number of clinical trials. An important element in fuelling this progress is the sharing of knowledge, and to this end, for over 20 years the Children's Tumor Foundation has convened an annual NF Conference, bringing together NF professionals to share ideas and build collaborations. The 2010 NF Conference held in Baltimore, MD June 5-8, 2010 hosted over 300 NF researchers and clinicians. This paper provides a synthesis of the highlights presented at the Conference and as such, is a "state-of-the-field" for NF research in 2010.
authors.affiliation: St. Mary's Hospital, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Huson
authors.forename: Maria T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Acosta
authors.forename: Allan J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Belzberg
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bernards
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chernoff
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cichowski
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gareth Evans
authors.forename: Rosalie E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Ferner
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giovannini
authors.forename: Bruce R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Korf
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Listernick
authors.forename: Kathryn N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: North
authors.forename: Roger J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Packer
authors.forename: Luis F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Parada
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peltonen
authors.forename: Vijaya
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ramesh
authors.forename: Karlyne M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Reilly
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Risner
authors.forename: Elizabeth K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Schorry
authors.forename: Meena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Upadhyaya
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Viskochil
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hunter-Schaedle
authors.forename: Filippo G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Giancotti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017253:Neurofibromatoses / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases