New insights into the role of NF1 in cancer.

NF1 proteins are a family of transcription factors that act either as repressors or as activators. Functional studies indicate that NF1 participate in signaling pathways that regulate cell viability, proliferation and differentiation. Participation in regulation of genes important for tumor progression and metastasizing suggests a potential value of NF1 as a prognostic factor for certain types of cancer.