NCT06880991 · National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Development of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Assessing Tumor Visibility and Appearance Concerns in Neurofibromatosis Type 1: A Qualitative Study
What this study is about
Background: Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) is a disease that causes tumors to grow along the nerves. These include plexiform neurofibromas (pNF) and cutaneous neurofibromas (cNF). Both pNF and cNF can be visible to other people. These tumors can affect a person s appearance and quality of life. Researchers want to be able to assess changes in appearance before and after treatment for NF1 tumors.
View original scientific description
Background: Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) is a disease that causes tumors to grow along the nerves. These include plexiform neurofibromas (pNF) and cutaneous neurofibromas (cNF). Both pNF and cNF can be visible to other people. These tumors can affect a person s appearance and quality of life. Researchers want to be able to assess changes in appearance before and after treatment for NF1 tumors. Objective: To see if two questionnaires can help assess people s ratings about the appearance of their pNF and cNF tumors. Eligibility: People aged 8 years and older with pNF and people 12 years and older either with cNF or both pNF and cNF. Adult caregivers of children with pNF and cNF are also needed. Design: Participants will complete questionnaires on paper or by phone, computer, or tablet. They will answer questions about how they look, how they feel, and how they feel about the way they look. Participants will meet in at least 1 remote focus group or individual interview. The meeting will last about 1 hour. Each group will include 3 to 5 people, organized by age: 8 to 11 years, 12 to 17 years, 18 to 29 years, and over 30 years. Adult caregivers will meet in a group with other caregivers. They will discuss their NF1 symptoms; how their tumors look; how they feel about the way their tumors look; and their daily activities. They will give their opinions about 2 questionnaires about appearance. The group and individual meetings will be audio-recorded and transcribed. Information that can reveal individual identities will be removed.
Interventions
OTHER
Arm 1
Participant completion of questionnaires and participation in focus group(s) and/or interview sessions.
Primary outcome measures
Evaluate new tumor visibility (DRS-pNF, DRS-cNF self-report/parent-report); to select the most appropriate items to assess these constructs in NF1 based on qualitative feedback from children and adults with NF1 and visible pNF or cNF
Time frame: throughout the study
The primary endpoints will be the modified measures of tumor visibility resulting from the qualitative data obtained from the focus groups and interviews.
Who can participate
This study lists these criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov. A study coordinator reviews eligibility during screening — this page does not determine whether you qualify.
Inclusion criteria
- Participants must self-report a diagnosis of NF1 OR be the caregiver of a child with NF1 (5-17 years old with plexiform neurofibroma \[pNF\] or 12-17 years old with cutaneous neurofibroma \[cNF\]) The following for the participant or the caregiver of a child, as appropriate:
- Participants with NF1 must self-report a pNF and/or cNF tumor(s) that is visible to that individual OR others
- Caregivers of a child with NF1 must report a pNF and/or cNF tumor(s) that the child has that is visible to the child OR others
- Age requirements:
- \>= 8 years old (participants with pNF)
- \>= 12 years old (participants with cNF)
- \>= 12 years old (participants with pNF and cNF)
- \>= 18 years (caregivers)
- Access to device with internet
- Ability to understand English and comfort discussing their medical condition in English
- The ability of adult participant or caregiver of minor participants to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document
Exclusion criteria
- Physical or cognitive limitations that would prevent them from being able to participate in a focus group or interview, or unwillingness to do so
- Since we will aim to have no less than 25 percent of participants from underrepresented\
- groups, individuals from represented groups may not be able to participate after we have reached the maximum target for represented groups. Consistent with best practices for scale development and validation, this will help ensure that the measures are appropriate for people from a variety of backgrounds. \
- Underrepresented groups are defined as people who identify as African American or Black, American Indian, Alaska Native, Hispanic/Latine, Native Hawaiian, and other Pacific Islander.
- If saturation has been met within a particular age group, potential participants from that completed age group will no longer be eligible.
Where
- Bethesda, Maryland
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Frequently asked questions
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Data: ClinicalTrials.gov · synced Apr 29, 2026 · Source of record for eligibility and locations