before the kinase pathway becomes hyperactive. It successfully passed phase one clinical trials but was suspended (NCT00029354) in phase two after showing no improvement over controls. Research The many drug therapies under study for neurofibromas are in various stages of research; more time will be required to determine if these are viable options for the treatment of neurofibromas. Sirolimus, a compound that inhibits mTOR signalling, is being studied to treat plexiform neurofibromas. The combination of erlotinib with sirolimus was studied to treat low-grade gliomas. Early research has shown potential for using the c-kit tyrosine kinase blocking properties of imatinib to treat plexiform neurofibromas. Peginterferon alfa-2b is being studied to treat plexiform neurofibromas. Sorafenib is being studied for treatment of unresectable plexiform neurofibroma and low-grade astrocytomas. In vitro, tranilast, inhibits growth of neurofibroma cells. Gene therapy for the neurofibromin 1 gene represents the ultimate solution to preventing the cluster of maladies which are enabled by the mutation. As of 2006, therapy for NF1 tumors had not been tested due to the lack of an appropriate NF1 tumor model. See also Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor Neurofibromatosis Neurofibromin Genetic disorder Watson syndrome Proteus syndrome RASopathy Palisaded encapsulated neuroma Skin lesion List of cutaneous conditions References External links PNS neoplasia Dermal and subcutaneous growths