Telomerase Activity in Patients with Neurofibromatosis Type 1

In various studies short telomere length and low telomerase activity have been shown to have a protective role in some types of cancer. Patients with NF1 are under risk of developing certain types of cancer. Malignant tumors such as brain tumors, malignant peripheral nerve sheat tumors, optic gliomas, soft tissue sarcomas and benign tumors such as neurofibromas and hamartomas are among them. Interestingly, prognosis is generally better in patients with NF1 than those without NF1. In the present review, we aimed to delineate telomerase activity in patients with NF1 with various types of cancer. Measurement of telomerase activity in patients with NF1 can be a diagnostic marker for tumorigenesis