Research

Who: Australian & New Zealand Haematology and Oncology Group (ANZCHOG) 

Where: Various sites across Australia and New Zealand

In 2019, ANZCHOG approached the CTF to support its efforts to run a Phase II MEK Inhibitor clinical trial across multiple paediatric and adolescent/young adult cancer centres in Australia and New Zealand. 

The trial is intended to improve treatment options for people with NF1, specifically those with complex tumours. Approximately 60 Australian and New Zealand NF1 patients between the ages of 3 months and 25 years will be recruited to investigate the effectiveness of the drug Trametinib for the treatment of plexiform neurofibromas and optic pathway gliomas.

Who: Children’s Hospital at Westmead and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
Where: Sydney

In collaboration with the Children’s Hospital at Westmead and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), a research project has been developed that uses new gene editing technology (CRISPR) in the hope of a new treatment approach for NF1.   

An application for funding was successfully made to the US CTF to support this. The Centre for Translational Research (funded by the CTF Australia) will provide the clinical support, with laboratory support to come from the MCRI in Melbourne.

Who: Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and The Royal Children’s Hospital
Where: Melbourne

This study tool was developed by Dr Stacie Wang, the first Barney NF Fellow, and resulted in the development of an overall scale to help provide a succinct measure of NF1. 

This will be beneficial to facilitate optimal clinical care, clinical communication between specialties, as well as being extremely useful in clinical trial and research about NF1.

If you currently attend the Royal Children’s Hospital NF Clinic in Melbourne you may be approached at your next clinic appointment to participate in this study.

Who: Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and The University of Melbourne
Where: Melbourne

Children and adults with NF1 were recruited for audiological assessment to determine whether there were any auditory processing and speech recognition problems associated with this condition. The results showed that the deficits were severe enough to impact everyday communication and the educational progress of a child with NF1. 

The study was overseen by Alice Maier, Barney NF Fellow (research), who has now extended this work to study how assisted listening devices can improve efficacy in treating audiological deficits in NF1. With compelling results, the study will be broadened for a larger sample size.

Who: Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
Where: Melbourne

A sub-section of the PANDA study was developed by Dr Lauren Taylor, Barney NF Fellow, who is using functional MRI’s to observe the differences in the Default Mode Network and how that relates to Autism in children with NF1.  

The aim of this study is to establish whether children with NF1 demonstrate abnormal function within the social brain network, and the relationship between structural and functional brain abnormalities and ASD/social dysfunction in children with NF1.

Who: Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
Where: Melbourne

RCH have been documenting and characterising various MRI brain changes in children with NF1 since its inception in 2015.  

While there are some studies that have previously described common brain MRI findings in NF1, the results are incomplete and further changes have been seen anecdotally, but not yet described in the literature.

This study aims to quantify the incidence of abnormal MRI brain findings such as T2 hyperintensities, gliomas, Moyamoya syndrome, and aqueductal stenosis.

Who: The Royal Children’s Hospital and the Royal Melbourne Hospital
Where: Melbourne

There is a lifetime risk of plexiform neurofibromas developing into MPNSTs and the current method for detecting transformation is limited in that there is an overlap in the values the testing produces for malignant and non-malignant tumours. Recent studies have revealed that collecting plasma, which contains cell-free DNA (cfDNA), is useful in detecting and classifying tumours.

This study aims to build a biobank of cfDNA to further research and determine the efficacy of this technique in NF1 tumour transformation. Plasma samples will be collected every 6-12 months from children over the age of 16 years with a diagnosis of NF1. Later, once they are transitioned across to RMH this sample collection will continue. 

These samples will then be stored for future analysis and comparison with tumour tissue for any of those children who do go on to develop an MPNST.

With Australia being such a vast geographical area, it is important to ensure clinicians and researchers from around the country are afforded the opportunity to both network and attend training and development programs. This ensures that a network of healthcare professionals can develop and grow, while maintaining the same level of care where ever a patient may be located.

We can assist in the provision of travel grants to events like the NF Symposium or on a case by case basis. 

Who: The Centre For Translational Research, Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) 

Where: Sydney 

The NF1 Breast Screening Study is the first of its kind in Australia and commenced at RNSH in response to evidence that women with NF1 are at an increased risk of breast cancer, especially those aged between 35-50 years. 

The aim of the study was to establish a successful breast screening program in women with NF1 which encompasses: 

• Screening all women with NF1 who are at an increased risk of breast cancer 
• Ensuring that screening is done with the most appropriate test 
• Ensuring the screening study does not cause unnecessary psychological distress 
• Ensuring these women are linked into a high-risk breast clinic for ongoing surveillance and care.

The study is still in its recruitment and analysis phase. These women have also been successfully integrated into the high-risk breast cancer clinic at RNSH where they will continue to have ongoing breast cancer surveillance under the care of a breast surgeon.

An early success has been the alteration of the national cancer screening guidelines, which lowers the age of screening commencement from 50 to 30 years and provides direction as to better screening tests for use in these women.

The plan is to establish a state-wide multi-centre NF1 Breast Screening program where women with NF1 are linked into high-risk breast clinics throughout NSW, where they will receive appropriate, quality care through the NSW healthcare system. 

This study is currently in the process of being expanded into two other tertiary centres within NSW and recruitment is ongoing. 

To find out if we are eligible to be part of the study, Genomic Cause of Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumours: 

Who: Royal North Shore Hospital and the Garvan Institute
Where: Sydney

A collaboration between the Garvan Institute and RNSH helped establish a research project to examine the genomic cause of malignant peripheral sheath tumours in patients with Schwannomatosis. This project is currently underway with significant support from the Garvan Institute. 

Patients have been identified and the project has been designed with the goal to have the Garvan laboratory perform the sequencing.

We are committed to assisting clinical and research excellence through the full or partial funding of dedicated NF Fellowships in Australia.

To date, we have funded a Neurology Clinical Fellowship with funding from the Barney NF Fellow at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne.  While this fellowship has reached it's conclusion, we are committed to moving forward with similar proposals in the future.