Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a common autosomal dominantly inherited, tumour predisposition syndrome affecting 1/3,000-4,000 individuals worldwide. This inherited disorder results from the mutational inactivation of the NF1 gene on human chromosome 17. The NF1 gene contains 61 exons that give rise to 12kb mRNA encoding neurofibromin. The 327kDa (2,818 amino acid) neurofibromin protein is expressed in most tissues and has a number of alternative isoforms. Neurofibromin is a tumour suppressor protein and down-regulates cellular Ras. Increased active Ras-GTP levels also stimulate the important PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway that protects cells from apoptosis. The major clinical featues of NF1 include multiple café-au-lait macules, skinfold freckles, iris Lisch nodules, and neurofibromas. The diagnostic criteria for clinical diagnosis have been well established. However, there are a small number of cases in which the diagnosis is not certain. The germline mutation rate for the NF1 gene is 10-fold higher than that observed for most other inherited diseases. Using a combination of different techniques, almost 95% of germline mutations can be detected. To date, only two firm genotype phenotype correlations have been reported. NF1 phenotype exhibits large variations within a family, evidence for modifying loci regulating the expression of an NF1 gene is beginning to emerge. We also are gaining knowledge on the molecular mechanisms associated with the development of different types of tumours. It is encouraging that the results of recent laboratory and clinical research are finally being translated into clinical trials. With the availability of high-throughput technologies, sophisticated animal models, and multi-centre clinical trials, the future for NF1 sufferers is looking optimistic. This book aims to provide an overview of the genetic and clinical aspects of NF1 and its role in both NF1-associated and sporadic tumour development. It emphasizes the recent developments in this field and some of the promising on-going clinical trials.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), caused by mutational inactivation of the NF1 tumour suppressor gene, is one of the most common dominantly inherited human disorders, affecting 1 in 3000 individuals worldwide. This book presents in concise fashion, but as comprehensively as possible, our current state of knowledge on the molecular genetics, molecular biology and cellular biology of this tumour predisposition syndrome. Written by internationally recognized experts in the field, the 44 chapters that constitute this edited volume provide the reader with a broad overview of the clinical features of the disease, the structure and expression of the NF1 gene, its germ line and somatic mutational spectra and genotype-phenotype relationships, the structure and function of its protein product (neurofibromin), NF1 modifying loci, the molecular pathology of NF1-associated tumours, animal models of the disease, psycho-social aspects and future prospects for therapeutic treatment.

This monograph includes five chapters about neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), a condition characterised by changes in skin colouring and the growth of tumours along nerves in the skin, brain, and other parts of the body. Chapter One concerns the evolving molecular biology, targeted therapeutics, and neurocognitive deficits in neurofibromatosis type one. Chapter Two focuses on gastrointestinal stromal tumours and reviews the clinicopathologic features of these tumours and discusses differential diagnostic considerations. Chapter Three explores juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia, a rare haematological malignancy of the paediatric population, and its association with NF1 and distinguishing features in this context. Chapter Four reviews molecular approaches for the diagnosis of NF1, from single-gene testing to next-generation sequencing of gene panels, with a focus on the issues of sensitivity and variant interpretations. Finally, Chapter Five focuses attention on focal cortical dysplasia that has been identified in the population of NF1 patients that have had coexistent hippocampal sclerosis.

This title reflects the exponential growth in the knowledge and information on this subject and defines the extensive clinical translation of cardiovascular genetics and genomics in clinical practice. This concise, clinically oriented text is targeted at a broad range of clinicians who manage patients and families with a wide range of heterogeneous inherited cardiovascular conditions. Cardiovascular Genetics and Genomics: Principles and Clinical Practice includes a concise and clear account on selected topics written by a team of leading experts on clinical cardiovascular genetics. Each chapter include key information to assist the clinician and case histories have been incorporated to reflect contemporary practice in clinical cardiovascular genetics and genomics. Therefore this will be of key importance to all professionals working in the discipline, from clinicians and trainees in cardiology, cardiac surgery, electrophysiology, immunology through geneticists, nursing staff and those involved in precision medicine.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 is a common inherited neurogenetic disorder affecting one in 4000 individuals worldwide. Symptoms include facial and body disfigurement, mental retardation, and abnormalities of the cardiovascular, renal and endocrine systems. Beginning with an overview of what is known about the disease, this text goes on to provide information on developments and clinical implications.

The neurofibromatoses are autosomal-dominant genetic disorders of the nervous system that primarily affect the development and growth of neural cell tissue. These disorders cause tumors to grow on nerves and produce other abnormalities such as skin changes and bone deformities. In recent years, the genes and mutations causing neurofibromatoses have been identified. The main types of neurofibromatoses, type 1 (NF1) and type 2 (NF2), have been shown to be distinctive disorders both clinically and genetically. More recently, allelic and non-allelic subtypes of NF1 have been defined as well as the NF2-related condition schwannomatosis. Many of the complex molecular mechanisms leading to the neurofibromatoses have been elucidated, resulting in a growing body of publications which are difficult to keep up with.This volume provides an important overview of recent findings on the neurofibromatoses. It focuses on the genetics and molecular biology underlying these diseases, but also covers their clinical features, diagnosis and treatment, stressing the need for interdisciplinary medical care. With contributions by the foremost investigators in the field, this timely book will appeal to geneticists, genetic counselors, pediatricians, neurologists and oncologists.

"Now in its third edition, Neurofibromatosis has been extensively rewritten by a group of leading neurofibromatosis (NF) researchers. It summarizes the current state of knowledge and details significant advances in the basic science and clinical care of patients with NF1 and NF2. Areas of particular emphasis include aspects of natural history, variability, pathology, molecular biology, and cellular biology that give a deeper understanding of the mechanisms responsible for these diseases. The book is a definitive, comprehensive review of the history, heterogeneity, pathogenesis, genetics, and management of NF1 and NF2"--Publisher description.

This Atlas of Inherited Retinal Disorders provides a thorough overview of various inherited retinal dystrophies with emphasis on phenotype characteristics and how they relate to the most frequently encountered genes. It also meets the previously unmet needs of PhD students who will benefit from seeing the phenotypes of genes they work on and study. Further, because genetic-testing costs are quite high and spiraling higher, this Atlas will help geneticists familiarize themselves with the candidate gene approach to test patients’ genomes, enabling more cost-efficient testing. This invaluable atlas is organized into eight sections starting with an introduction to the basic knowledge on retinal imaging, followed by diseases listed according to inheritance pattern and disorders with extraocular manifestations grouped by defining features. This structure will be intuitive to clinicians and students studying inherited retinal disorders.

This volume offers an update of the clinical signs, diagnostic criteria (including molecular diagnosis) and targeted therapies for a particular type of genodermatosis, providing a handy and unique tool for early diagnosis. In recent years, our understanding of genodermatosis and neurocutaneous syndromes has increased, but although Type 1 Neurofibromatosis (NF1) is the most common neuroectodermal disorder and involves a large number of patients and medical disciplines, this syndrome remains underestimated, often misdiagnosed thus leading to inaccurate treatment. The literature on the molecular and pathogenetic aspects is ample, but current clinical approaches, classification, diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols are outdated, creating difficulties in early diagnosis and treatment. As such, a chapter is devoted renewing current diagnostic criteria; it includes clinical and molecular data, to offer a sound, updated discussion basis for a consensus conference. NF1 is a “time-dependent” disorder, meaning that the onset of clinical signs are closely linked to patient age and the book discusses this particularly neglected aspect extensively, as well as the latest molecular diagnosis techniques, which are highly sensitive have not been included in the diagnostic criteria. It also explains the role of the RAS-MAPK pathway and genotype-phenotype correlations. In addition it explores new concepts concerning the pathogenesis of neurofibromas and other hamarthomas and their relevance for a modern therapeutical approach with targeted molecular drugs, as well as newly discovered aspects of NF1 in all internal organs, together with their diagnostic counterparts. A chapter on mosaic neurofibromatosis is also included. There is a particular focus on differential diagnosis (i.e. other diseases with café-au-lait macules), and the recently described Legius syndrome will be presented directly by Prof Eric Legius. All chapters are easy-to-understand, up-to-date, comprehensive and concise tools and are intended for a wide range of professionals involved with genetic disorders of the skin and neurocutaneous diseases: dermatologists, pediatricians, neurologists, oncologists and general practitioners.