Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor: models, biology, and translation.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are aggressive, invasive cancer that comprise around 10% of all soft tissue sarcomas and develop in about 8-13% of patients with Neurofibromatosis Type 1. They are associated with poor prognosis and are the leading cause of mortality in NF1 patients. MPNSTs can also develop sporadically or following exposure to radiation. There is currently no effective targeted therapy to treat MPNSTs and surgical removal remains the mainstay treatment. Unfortunately, surgery is not always possible due to the size and location of the tumor, thus, a better understanding of MPNST initiation and development is required to design novel therapeutics. Here, we provide an overview of MPNST biology and genetics, discuss findings regarding the developmental origin of MPNST, and summarize the various model systems employed to study MPNST. Finally, we discuss current management strategies for MPNST, as well as recent developments in translating basic research findings into potential therapies.

Neurofibromatosis type 1

Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in the NF1 gene that encodes the tumor suppressor neurofibromin. The NF1 gene has one of the highest rates of spontaneous mutation in the human genome owing to its large size, which spans over 300 kilobases, and contains 60 exons, including several alternatively spliced exons. Approximately half of NF1 mutations are de novo events while the rest are inherited. The incidence of NF1 is 1 in every 3,000 live births making it one of the most common single gene inherited conditions [1].

Neurofibromin functions as a RAS GTPase Activating Protein (RAS-GAP), acting as an off-switch to all RAS proteins [2, 3] and is expressed in multiple cell types, particularly those of neural crest origin, including neurons, cells of the nervous system, and early melanocytes [4]. Therefore, almost all individuals with NF1 develop neurocutaneous pathologies of the skin, central nervous system, and peripheral nervous system. Loss of the second copy of NF1, referred to as loss of heterozygosity (LOH), is observed in some of these pathologies but not all.

The clinical manifestations of NF1 are wide-ranging and highly variable. They can be broadly divided into tumor and non-tumor manifestations. Major non-tumor manifestations of NF1 include pigmentary lesions (café-au-lait spots, axillary and inguinal freckling, and Lisch nodules), skeletal abnormalities (scoliosis, dysplasia of the long bone, pseudarthrosis of the tibia, macrocephaly, and short stature), vascular disorders (vasculopathy, pulmonary stenosis, and hypertension), learning disabilities, and social/behavioral disorders [4, 5]. Tumor manifestations include mostly benign neoplasms, but malignant tumors can also develop.

NF1 Associated Neoplasms

Due to the high rate of LOH, individuals with NF1 are at increased risk for developing various types of benign and malignant neoplasms [6, 7]. One of the most common central nervous system tumors found in both children and adult NF1 patients is glioma [8]. Symptomatic optic pathway gliomas (OPGs) are more often found in young children, are usually indolent, and typically regress with age. Chemotherapy is used to treat OPG patients when there is confirmed decline in vision or evidence of hypothalamic involvement [8, 9]. Gliomas in adults can be more aggressive and are typically located in other areas of the brain. Other neoplasms that can arise in NF1 patients are glioblastomas, pilocytic astrocytomas, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, pheochromocytomas, and juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia [10].

The hallmark tumor of NF1, however, is the neurofibroma. Neurofibromas fall into two main subtypes: cutaneous and plexiform. They arise from biallelic loss of NF1 in the Schwann cell lineage. Dermal or cutaneous neurofibromas (cNF) are benign tumors that can project above the surface of the skin or reside within the skin. They are present in >99% of NF1 patients and first appear in the preadolescent years. They continue to increase in number throughout life; in some cases, the number of cNF can be exceptionally high, resulting not only in physical discomfort, but also cosmetic disfigurement and emotional distress [4, 11, 12]. As medical treatments to date have been ineffective, surgical removal remains the only approach to manage cNF [12].

Unlike cNF, plexiform neurofibroma (pNF) is usually congenital and develops in more than 50% of NF1 patients. These tumors arise from nerve plexuses and develop within peripheral nerves and their perineural sheaths. pNFs can grow very large, affecting entire sections of the body and impinging on vital organs. Therefore, these pNFs can cause disfigurement and pain and impair function of the affected area. Due to their large and infiltrative nature, surgical removal of pNF can be difficult [4, 5, 7, 13]. In 2020, the FDA approved the first molecularly targeted therapy for symptomatic, inoperable pNF: selumetinib, a MEK inhibitor [14]. While this news was welcomed in the NF1 field, selumetinib is not a “cure all”: findings in both mice and humans have demonstrated that selumetinib does not completely eradicate the tumor, and once treatment is stopped tumors begin to grow again [14-16]. Importantly, about 8–13% of individuals with NF1 will go on to develop malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) (Fig. 1A), aggressive tumors that arise due to malignant transformation of pNF [17].

Figure 1.

Morphology and histology of MPNST.

A Photo of MPNST on the right flank of an NF1 patient. Also note the cutaneous neurofibroma tumors and café-au-lait macules surrounding the MPNST. B Hematoxylin and eosin stained paraffin section of the tumor in (A). N; necrotic pseudopalisade. White arrowheads mark mitotic cells. C Ki67 and D pH3 mark proliferating cells in the MPNST. Scale bar: 50 μm.

Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors (MPNST)

MPNST is a rare malignancy accounting for about 10% of all soft tissue sarcomas [18]. The estimated incidence of MPNST is 1.46 per 1,000,000 individuals [19]. The 8–13% of individuals with NF1 mutations that develop MPNST constitute nearly 50% of all MPNST cases. Of the remaining cases, 45% of MPNSTs occur sporadically with unidentified genetic anomalies, and the rest are associated with radiotherapy. For NF1-associated MPNST, the transition from pNF to MPNST is difficult to detect radiologically or by biopsy due to the intralesional heterogeneity of these tumors. MPNSTs are associated with poor survival outcomes, and in fact are the leading cause of mortality in NF1 patients [20]. These poor outcomes can be due to delayed diagnosis but are mostly due to poor therapeutic success. While complete surgical resection is the primary treatment for MPNST it is often hindered by the large size of tumors, their proximity to complex nerve networks, and a low rate of negative resection margins [21, 22]. Chemotherapy and ionizing radiation are also sometimes used for unresectable and high-risk MPNSTs. There is currently no FDA-approved drug for MPNST treatment although a number of clinical trials are underway. These are discussed at the end of this review (section 9).

Histologically, MPNSTs are diagnosed by the presence of features such as perivascular hypercellularity, fascicles, uniform spindle cells with hyperchromatic nuclei, high mitotic indices, and necrosis (Fig. 1B) [23, 24]. A recently identified tumor within the transition of pNF to MPNST is called atypical neurofibromatosis neoplasms of uncertain biological potential (ANNUBP). ANNUBPs exhibit features that are not commonly seen in pNF, including loss of neurofibroma architecture, high cellularity, and high mitotic activity [24]. ANNUBPs are thought to be premalignant tumors that represent a transitional step in pNF progression to MPNST. Moreover, the pNF microenvironment, which contains perineural cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, neurons, and cells of hematopoietic origin, may influence their malignant transformation [25, 26].

NF1-associated MPNST: The developmental origin of MPNST is a burning question in the field. By definition, MPNST is a malignant tumor that comes from any cell in the peripheral nerve, and, in NF1-associated MPNST, it is thought that MPNSTs arise from pNFs following progression to ANNUBP. However, the cell(s) of origin within pNF that gives rise to ANNUBP and then to MPNST remains unknown. One possibility is that neoplastic NF1-null Schwann cells undergo further mutation that drives progression to MPNST. Another possibility is the existence of a special, stem cell-like population that is responsible for MPNST initiation (see below). Alternatively, the neurofibroma may act like an “incubator” for other stem cell populations within the tumor microenvironment that makes them susceptible to tumorigenic progression to MPNST. These cells could be pericytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, etc. There is also the possibility that all of the above mechanisms contribute to MPNST development.

Sporadic MPNST: In the case of sporadic MPNST, even less is known about the cell of origin and there is a relative paucity of preclinical models. Sporadic MPNSTs typically have a later age of onset and are smaller in size than NF1-associated MPNSTs, which likely accounts for the better prognosis for patients with sporadic MPNST [27]. Bottillo et al. reported that NF1 mutation is present in about 41% of sporadic MPNSTs they analyzed [28]. While the histology of NF1-associated and sporadic MPNSTs is similar, it is believed that these MPNSTs arise via different mechanisms, with sporadic MPNSTs thought to arise de novo, rather than progressing from a pNF [29].

Developmental Origin of MPNST

Cancer Stem Cells in MPNST:

The cancer stem cell theory posits that cancer growth is due to a small population of relatively quiescent cells with stem-like properties that sustain the cancer and are resistant to therapies that target rapidly dividing cells [30]. The identification of a cancer stem cell population was first reported by Lapidot et al. in the context of acute myeloid leukemia [31]. This was soon extended to solid tumors, including brain, breast, and lung cancers [32-34]. In 2011, Spyra et al. reported the identification of MPNST cancer stem cells using an established MPNST cell line [35]. These cells had increased expression of stem cell markers including CD133, Oct4, and Nestin, and decreased markers of differentiation such as NCAM and CD90. Additionally, these cells induced tumor formation more readily than the parental cells when injected into nude mice [35]. More recently, Sun et al. used in vivo MPNST models to identify a quiescent stem cell-like cell population that is required for MPNST initiation [36]. They used two different Nestin-promoter transgenes – one driving thymidine kinase (TK) and one driving diphtheria toxin receptor – to eliminate these cells in mouse models of MPNST and found that tumor initiation and development was significantly impeded. They also observed a role for these cells in tumor regrowth following chemotherapy. Importantly, the stem cell gene signature of these cells was observed in the cognate human tumors from which the xenograft mice were derived supporting the clinical relevance of these findings. The identification of cancer stem cells has implications not only for therapeutic strategies but may also shed light on the mechanisms underlying the transition from pNF to MPNST.

The Genetics of MPNST

NF1-associated MPNST:

Although individuals with NF1 are heterozygous for NF1 gene mutation, benign and malignant tumor formation is caused by LOH of the remaining wild-type NF1 allele in somatic cells [37]. Only 8–13% of NF1 patients develop MPNST suggesting NF1 deficiency is necessary but not sufficient to induce malignancy. As such, cooperating mutations in other genes that drive malignant progression must be acquired. With the advent of next-generation sequencing, a number of these cooperating mutations have been identified [38, 39]. Not surprisingly, mutations in tumor suppressors, as well as mutations that cause upregulation of oncogenic genes have been found. For example, loss/inactivation of the tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) CDKN2A and PTEN (Phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted from chromosome 10) is frequently observed in MPNST [38-40]. Mutation or deletion of the TSG CDKN2A, which encodes the cell-cycle inhibitors p16INK4A and p14ARF, is found in about 50% of neoplasms including ANNUBP that ultimately progress into MPNST, thus implicating it as a key driver of progression to MPNST [41, 42]. PTEN is an inhibitor of the PI3K and mTOR pathways (Fig. 2), and loss of PTEN function results in upregulation of these pathways which are involved in cell proliferation and survival. Another TSG shown to be involved in MPNST is TP53, although there have been conflicting reports on the frequency of mutation observed [43, 44]. A summary of studies reporting on TP53 mutation in MPNST is provided in a review by Lemberg et al. [39].

Figure 2.

Key cellular pathways underpinning MPNST development.

Created with BioRender.com.

Epigenetic dysregulation is also involved in NF1-associated MPNST: inactivating mutations in SUZ12 or EED, two components of the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) have been shown to be associated with MPNST formation [45, 46]. (See section 5.4 below.)

Genetic instability in MPNST:

Genetic instability is a hallmark of most cancers and a driver of malignancy and aggressiveness, and includes nucleotide sequence mutations and microsatellite instability, as well as larger genetic changes such as chromosomal gains, losses, and rearrangements leading to DNA copy number alterations (CNA). A number of studies have demonstrated that, like other malignancies, MPNST display significant genetic instability [47]. Recurrent losses have been observed for many chromosomal regions including 1p, 9p, 11, 12p, 14q, and 22q while gains, which are observed more frequently than losses, include chromosome 7, 8q, 9q, 13q, 15q, and 17q [48-51]. Many of the regions of chromosomal loss and gain are large, making it difficult to pinpoint the gene(s) within these regions that is involved in tumorigenesis. However, some of the relevant genes have been identified and we discuss these in section 5.3.

While the exact causes of this genetic instability have yet to be completely elucidated, longitudinal genomic analyses suggest that there is a non-random stepwise progression. Peacock et al. found MET and HGF copy number gains in MPNST but not in pNF that increased during disease progression and following treatment with chemotherapy and radiation [52]. They also found that additional genomic gains and losses occurred over time leading to even greater genetic complexity that supports MPNST progression. Pemov et al. used comprehensive multiplatform genomics analyses to distinguish genetic changes that occur in the transition from pNF to atypical neurofibroma (ANF; now reclassified as ANNUBP) to MPNST [53]. They found that MPNST has much greater genetic instability and complexity compared to pNF or ANNUBP, with a greater number of CNAs resulting in overexpression of 178 oncogenes and loss of 144 TSGs. They also identified loss of CDKN2A and SMARCA2 as key drivers of the transition from PNF to ANNUBP.

Szymanski et al. took advantage of this feature of MPNST to design a cell-free whole genome sequencing test that can distinguish MPNST from pNF based on CNAs, microdeletions, etc. [54]. This liquid biopsy method could one day be used clinically as an early, non-invasive detection and monitoring test.

The fact that MPNSTs have greater genetic instability than pNFs has implications for treatment planning. As radiotherapy and chemotherapy tend to increase genetic instability and can cause de novo genetic mutations to arise, it would perhaps be advisable to perform clinical trials on patients whose MPNST have not yet been treated: potential therapies might have a better chance of success in untreated MPNSTs rather than following chemotherapy and radiation therapy when the tumors have likely accumulated even more mutations [52] making them more aggressive and treatment resistant (discussed further in section 10).

Gene amplifications in MPNST development:

The chromosomal gains observed in MPNST result in amplification of many genes, although copy number variation can also occur in a gene-specific manner. Some of the amplified genes that play an important role in MPNST pathogenesis have been identified. For example, amplification of several receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) has been observed in MPNST, including MET, c-kit, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGFRA), and epidermal growth factor (EGFR) [55-57], and subsequent studies have demonstrated their relevance to MPNST pathogenesis. (i) In 2008, Mantripragada et al. reported amplification of both MET (also known as Hepatic Growth Factor Receptor (HGFR)), as well as its ligand, HGF [57] in human MPNST samples compared to neurofibromas. In 2018, Peacock et al. reported that mice with Nf1 ablation and MET overexpression driven by Plp-Cre developed MPNSTs in the absence of other mutations indicating that, in the context of Nf1 loss, MET activation is sufficient for malignant transform [52]. (ii) Holtkamp et al. showed that c-KIT is amplified in MPNST [56], and treatment of MPNST cell lines with imatinib, a c-kit inhibitor, slowed cell growth [58]. (iii) Ki et al. used a zebrafish model to show that overexpression of PDGFR in Nf1/p53 mutant fish increased the rate and penetrance of MPNST development [59]. (iv) Wu et al. reported that the Nf1;DhhCre mouse model of neurofibroma develops MPNST when EGFR is overexpressed [60].

Genes encoding other types of proteins besides RTKs have also been found to be amplified in MPNST. In 2011, Yang et al. reported c-MYC as an amplified gene in MPNST [61], and more recently, Dehner et al. analyzed expression of genes located on chromosome arm 8q, a frequent location of chromosomal gain in MPNST, and determined that c-MYC and Rad21 are more highly expressed in MPNST, compared to pNF, and likely to be involved in tumorigenesis [51]. c-MYC encodes a basic-loop-helix transcription factor and has been found to be amplified in a variety of cancers [62]. It regulates a number of key cellular processes that can be hijacked for cancer growth, including cell proliferation, metabolism, and differentiation. Rad21 encodes a DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair protein, and the role of its upregulation in MPNST remains to be determined.

The identification of additional genes with amplified expression that play a role in MPNST pathogenesis should provide new therapeutic opportunities.

Epigenetic regulation of MPNST development:

In 2014, Patel et al. used a mouse model of MPNST [63] to screen for epigenetic changes and discovered that bromodomain-containing 4 (BRD4), a member of the bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) family and an epigenetic regulator, is highly upregulated in these tumors [64]. They then targeted BRD4 with the BRD4 inhibitor JQ1 and found that it inhibited cell growth and caused tumor regression. Subsequently, 3 independent groups performed genome sequencing analyses on human MPNST and found recurring mutations in SUZ12 and EED, components of PRC2 [65-67]. PRC2 is a histone methyltransferase complex that represses gene transcription [68]; when the complex is inactivated, H3K27 becomes acetylated (rather than methylated) (Fig. 3). These acetylated histones become targets for BRD4 binding, which then recruits transcription factors that activate transcription of oncogenic factors [69]. De Raedt et al. also used the BRD4 inhibitor JQ1, together with a MEK inhibitor, to show that this combination therapy reduced MPNST growth in Nf1/p53/Suz12 mice [65]. These findings nominate BRD4 as a prime therapeutic target that could potentially be effective in most MPNSTs regardless of their underlying secondary genetic mutations (Fig. 3).

Figure 3.

Epigenetic regulation in MPNST.

BRD4, Bromodomain-containing Protein 4; EED, Embryonic Ectoderm Development; EZH2, Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2; PRC2, Polycomb Repressive Complex 2; RBBP4/7, Retinoblastoma Binding Protein 4/7; SUZ12, Suppressor of Zeste 12. Created with BioRender.com.

Non-NF1 associated MPNST:

Compared with NF1-associated MPNST, less is known about the molecular underpinnings that drive development of sporadic MPNST. However, some findings include: (i) Similar to NF1-associated MPNSTs, mutations in PRC2 components have been found in non-hereditary MPNSTs, with over 90% of sporadic MPNSTs harboring mutations in either SUZ12 or EED [66, 67]. (ii) B-RAF is a serine/threonine protein kinase that phosphorylates and activates mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and mutations in BRAF have been found in a number of cancers [70]. Using an immunohistochemical assay, Hirbe et al. observed the oncogenic BRAFV600E mutation, in which the valine at position 600 is replaced with glutamic acid, present in sporadic NF1 [71]: Their finding that over 90% of cells in BRAFV600E-positive MPNSTs are BRAFV600E-immunoreactive, while no benign neurofibromas were positive indicates that BRAFV600E is likely a driver mutation in sporadic MPNST. (iii) TP53 mutations have also been identified in sporadic MPNSTs [44]. (iv) Recently, Longo et al. established a cell line from a patient sporadic MPNST and found that while some of the mutations found in NF1-associated MPNSTs were present (e.g., CDKN2A, PTEN, and TP53), there were also mutations not typically found, including DNMT1, NUMA1, and NTRK1 [72].

In 2020, plans for more in-depth analyses using whole genome sequencing, RNA sequencing, and DNA methylation profiling to assess MPNSTs were outlined by the Genomics of MPNST (GeM) Consortium, which consists of 10 participating institutions [73]. These analyses should provide important insights into the genetic similarities and differences in sporadic versus NF1-associated MPNST.

Modeling MPNST

A number of model systems have been deployed to study MPNST including cell culture models, Drosophila and zebrafish models, genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs), and xenograft models using patient-derived MPNST cells. Studies using these model systems have contributed immensely to our understanding of MPNST biology. Each system is discussed briefly below.

Cell culture/in-vitro models:

Molecular characterization of cells obtained from primary, metastatic, and recurrent MPNSTs that are either NF1-associated or sporadic have been extensively characterized [29, 74–80] (Table 1). Tumor cell lines isolated from human patients with malignant schwannomas have been studied to understand the mechanism of action of neurofibromin [81]. Several human-derived cell lines have been used to study the role of tyrosine kinase receptors such as stem cell factor/KIT complex [55, 74, 82], EGFR [83, 84], PDGFR [55, 85] and HGFR [86] in MPNST. Other studies include investigating how growth factors [87, 88], steroid hormones [89, 90] and micro-RNAs [90] are involved in MPNST pathology. A number of human MPNST cell lines have been surveyed to identify oncogene mutations driving MPNST in addition to NF1 [76]. Xenograft models using human MPNST cell lines are extensively used to explore the efficacy of chemotherapy [58, 91–94] and viral therapy [95, 96] as potential treatment strategies for MPNST.

Table 1.

Human MPNST cell lines and xenograft models derived from them.

Cell line	Origin	Recipient mouse species					Route of administration				References
		Nude	SCID	NSG	NOD/SCID	NIH III	SC	IP	IN	TV
S462	NF1 MPNST	x					x		x		[29, 35, 55, 78, 239–241]
S462.TY	NF1 MPNST	x					x				[77, 242]
sNF02.2	Metastatic lung of NF1 MPNST										[29, 76, 77, 243]
sNF94.3	NF1 MPNST		x						x		[29, 243]
sNF96.2	NF1 MPNST		x				x				[29, 76, 77, 89, 243]
ST88-14	NF1 MPNST	x	x	x		x	x	x			[29, 55, 74–78, 81, 83, 240, 241, 244–248]
T265	NF1 MPNST	x	x	x		x		x			[29, 74–77, 240, 247, 249]
ST88-3	NF1 MPNST										[75, 77, 81, 83, 244]
90-8	NF1 MPNST										[29, 43, 75, 81, 83, 246, 250]
FMS-1	NF1 MPNST	x	x		x		x				[84]
MPNST642	NF1 MPNST		x				x				[29, 240]
MPNST724	MPNST		x				x				[29, 240, 251]
NMS-2	NF1 MPNST	x					x				[29, 91]
NMS-2PC	Metastatic retroperitoneal lesion of NF1 MPNST	x			x		x				[29, 91]
YST-1	Sporadic MPNST	x					x				[75, 78, 80, 252]
STS26T	Metastatic left scapula of sporadic MPNST	x	x	x		x	x	x	x	x	[29, 74–78, 240, 241, 246, 247, 253]
Hs-Sch-2	Sporadic MPNST	x			x		x				[29, 78, 254]

IN, intraneural; IP, intraperitoneal; SC, subcutaneous; TV, tail vein.

Immortalized human Schwann cells have been used to test candidate oncogenes and tumor suppressors that are involved in malignant transformation of Schwann cells [97, 98]. These Schwann cells, obtained from nerves of healthy human individuals and NF1 patients, along with neurofibromas were immortalized using lentiviral transduction of human TERT and mouse Cdk4 transgenes [99].

Another important model system in this category is the in vitro 3-D organotypic model, whereby the different components that comprise the tumor – neoplastic Schwann cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, mast cells, etc. – are grown on a matrix, and give rise to tumors [100, 101]. This system therefore more closely replicates the complexity of the actual in vivo tumor environment. Advantages of the 3-D model include the ability to test the requirement for different cellular components and the requirement of particular genes in those cells for tumor development, as well as drug screening/testing in a more biologically relevant system than 2-D culture.

Nf1 mutant fly models:

The Drosophila Nf1 protein is highly conserved, with an amino acid sequence similarity of 60% to human neurofibromin [102]. Nf1 mutant fly models exhibit similar behavioral phenotypes to mammalian models [103-108], therefore, Drosophila provides a powerful genetic system to investigate the signaling events upstream and downstream of Nf1. While Nf1 mutant flies have growth defects [102, 106, 109], impaired learning [103-106], defective neuropeptide signaling [110], improper circadian rhythm activity [111] and excessive behavior [107, 108, 112], only the latter two phenotypes have been shown to be associated with increased Ras-MAPK signaling [111]. The other phenotypes have been linked to decreased signaling in the cAMP-Protein Kinase A pathway [102, 113].

Zebrafish models of MPNST:

Nf1 mutant zebrafish models have also been deployed to investigate the biology of MPNST and as a system for preclinical drug screening. One of the earliest efforts in zebrafish involved determining how p53 contributes to MPNST development in zebrafish carrying mutations in ribosomal protein (rp) encoding genes. This work demonstrated that a threshold amount of ribosomal proteins is required for p53 protein production in vivo and disruption of this regulation leads to MPNST tumorigenesis [114]. Extension of this work reported that MPNSTs that arise in zebrafish as a result of mutations in either rp genes or in p53 are highly aneuploid, suggesting that zebrafish is a useful tool to study aneuploidy in human cancer. A major contribution to developing zebrafish models of MPNST came from Thomas Look and colleagues. Using targeted mutagenesis strategies, they generated zebrafish containing stable germline mutations in nf1a and nf1b, orthologues of Nf1. Ablating p53 in an nf1a+/−; nf1b−/− background resulted in accelerated onset and increased penetrance of MPNSTs in adult fish. This was also the first animal model displaying the characteristic pigmentation lesions of NF1 [115]. These fish have been used to identify drivers of NF1/p53 deficient MPNSTs and for in vivo evaluation of candidate drugs as potential treatments for MPNST [116, 117]. Another zebrafish model containing a large deletion in chromosome 1, where the rps6 ribosomal protein gene is located, and in the heterozygous condition also gave rise to tumors with histological features consistent with MPNSTs [118]. A recent study identified the membrane-bound glycoprotein RECK as a tumor suppressor for zebrafish MPNST in rp- and p53- mutant zebrafish backgrounds [119]. Developing better zebrafish models for MPNST was a recommendation from the “MPNST State of the Science: Outlining a Research Agenda for the Future” conference at the National Institutes of Health, 2016 [120].

Mouse models of MPNST:

As for many other diseases, genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) of MPNST have been a workhorse for investigating the underlying biology of MPNST development and for preclinical drug testing (Table 2). Mouse models have employed 4 common mechanisms to initiate MPNST growth: 1) Spontaneous LOH of tumor suppressor genes; 2) Using nervous system-specific promoters for overexpression of candidate oncogenes; 3) Spatiotemporal conditional activation/mutation of oncogenes; and 4) Adenoviral or lentiviral expression of shRNAs to knock down relevant genes.

Table 2.

Mouse models of MPNST.

Mouse model	Method of mutation	Promoter	Overexpressed genes	Penetrance (%)	References
Nf1 +/− ; Trp53 +/−	Germline			81	[125, 126]
Nf1 +/− ; Arf −/− ; Ink4a −/−	Germline			26	[123]
Nf1 flox/flox ; Pten flox/flox	cko in Dhh+ cells			92	[135]
Nf1 flox/flox ; Pten flox/+	cko in Dhh+ cells			42	[135]
Nf1 flox/+ ; Pten flox/flox	cko in Dhh+ cells			82	[135]
Nf1 flox/flox ; Arf flox/flox	cko in Postn+ neural crest derived progenitor Schwann cells			100	[136]
Nf1 flox/flox ; Pten flox/+	cko in Postn+ neural crest derived progenitor Schwann cells			60	[136]
Nf1 flox/flox	cko in Dhh+ cells	CNP	EGFR	33	[60]
Nf1 flox/flox ; Arf flox/flox ; Ink4a flox/flox	cko in the sciatic nerve with Adenovirus-Cre injections			100	[140]
Nf1 flox/− ; Arf flox/flox ; Ink4a flox/flox	cko in the sciatic nerve with Adenovirus-Cre injections			75	[141]
Nf1flox/flox; Nf1/p53 shRNA	cKO in Periostin+ cells followed by lentivirus-mediated knockdown			56	[143]
Nf1flox/−; Nf1/p53 shRNA	cKO in GFAP+ cells followed by lentivirus-mediated knockdown			73	[143]
(P0)GGFβ3	Schwann cell-specific overexpression	P0	GGFβ3	71	[133]
Trp53 +/−	Germline, Schwann cell-specific overexpression of GGFβ3	P0	GGFβ3	95	[134]
Pten flox/+	cKO in GFAP+ cells		Kras-G12D	100	[137]
Pten flox/flox	cko in Dhh+ cells followed by overexpression of EGFR	CNP	EGFR	100	[138]
Trp53 +/−	Germline, Schwann cell-specific overexpression of EGFR	CNP	EGFR	19	[139]

cko, conditional knockout; CNP, 2–3-cyclic nucleotide 3-phosphodiesterase; Dhh, Desert hedgehog; EGFR, epidermal growth factor receptor; GGFβ3, glial growth factor β3; Postn, periostin.

Unlike humans, mice heterozygous for loss of Nf1 (Nf1+/−) do not develop peripheral nerve sheath tumors or other characteristic symptoms of human NF1 [121, 122]. However, combining Nf1 heterozygosity with Ink4a and Arf deficiency gives rise to MPNST with low penetrance [123]. Alternatively, inactivating mutations of the TSG Trp53 are associated with MPNST [43, 124]. The first and most studied MPNST model is the Nf1+/−; Trp53+/− cis mouse (cisNP), where inactivating mutations in Nf1 and Trp53 are placed in a cis configuration, as both genes are linked on mouse chromosome 11 [125, 126]. As in the mouse, these two genes are also closely linked in humans. Spontaneous loss of the wild-type alleles of these genes initiates tumorigenesis resulting in a variety of sarcomas, including MPNST [125-127]. The cisNP mouse model was used to identify Ras pathway components that might be optimal therapeutic targets [128, 129] and to test a variety of new therapies [130-132]. This model has also been used to identify other candidate genes whose mutations potentiate Nf1 inactivation to tumorigenesis [65]. A drawback of the cisNP model is that these tumors do not develop through a process that involves progression from benign pNF to ANNUBP to MPNST as seen in human NF1 patients.

A transgenic mouse model that overexpresses the growth factor neuregulin-1 (NRG-1) in myelinating Schwann cells develops neurofibroma and peripheral ganglion-associated MPNST. Further analysis of this mouse model showed abnormalities in p16INK4A–cyclin D/CDK4–Rb and p19ARF–Mdm–p53 signaling pathways and chromosomal alterations that account for multiple mutations in neoplasia-associated genes analogous to their human counterparts [133, 134]. Although this mouse model has sustained neurofibromin expression, it successfully recapitulates neurofibroma to MPNST progression.

The Cre-loxP system has been used to conditionally inactivate Nf1 in combination with Pten, and Cdkn2a, respectively, in Schwann cells resulting in peripheral tumors that progress into MPNST [135, 136]. Conditional knockout of Nf1 with Schwann cell-specific overexpression of EGFR promotes MPNST in a JAK2/STAT3-dependent manner [60]. Using hGFAP-Cre to inactivate a single copy of the Pten gene with conditional overexpression of K-Ras results in cutaneous and plexiform neurofibroma with complete penetrance. These tumors develop into Nf1-independent MPNST over time [137]. Complete Schwann cell-specific inactivation of Pten with overexpression of EGFR promotes onset of peripheral tumors that progress into sporadic MPNST [138]. Transgenic mice heterozygous for a Trp53 null allele and overexpressing EGFR in Schwann cells show significantly increased neurofibroma and MPNST formation [139]. Injection of adenovirus-Cre into mice carrying floxed alleles of Nf1 and Cdkn2a causes MPNST through localized loss of Nf1, p16, and p19 [140]. Furthermore, using adenovirus-Cre injections to generate MPNST in Nf1; Ink4a/Arf, and Nf1;Ink4a/Arf mice revealed that haploinsufficiency of Nf1 in hematopoietic stem cells accelerates MPNST onset [141]. CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing has also been used to inactivate Nf1 and Trp53 via adenovirus delivery to the sciatic nerve of wild-type mice resulting in MPNST development [142].

It is hypothesized that in human patients with NF1, MPNSTs arise from Nf1-deficient cells following acquisition of secondary genetic mutations. To model this sequence of genetic events in mice, Hirbe et al. coupled embryonic Schwann cell precursor-specific Nf1 inactivation with lentivirus-mediated somatic p53 knockdown in adult mice. These mice develop low-grade MPNST with partial penetrance [143].

Although robust plexiform neurofibroma models have existed for over 20 years, the benign neurofibroma to MPNST transition has only recently been modeled in mice: in 2019, Rhodes et al. reported that conditional deletion of the tumor suppressor Arf together with Nf1 in the neural crest-derived Schwann cell lineage in mice leads to development of tumors that resemble human ANNUBP and progress to MPNST [136]. In depth studies of this mouse model of pNF to MPNST transition should provide a deeper understanding of tumor progression mechanisms and will be useful for preclinical therapeutic testing. Validated models of MPNST metastasis are also needed.

Patient-Derived Xenograft (PDX) models of MPNST:

While preclinical mouse models are an important system for elucidating molecular mechanisms, identifying therapeutic targets, and testing novel drugs, it is not unusual for drugs that showed promise in preclinical models to fail in human clinical trials [144]. Additionally, patient-derived tumor cells passaged in culture lack the presence of the tumor microenvironment leading to the question of whether they can accurately predict drug response in patients. PDX models overcome these deficiencies by implanting patient tumor tissue into immune-deficient host mice, so that the tumor cells grow within an in vivo environment. Bhola et al. developed and characterized a human NF1-MPNST explant grown subcutaneously in NOD-SCID mice to evaluate the effect of rapamycin treatment [145]. Another study implanted tumor fragments from schwannomas, neurofibromas, and a neurofibrosarcoma into nude mice to assess the effectiveness of a potent, fungal-derived inhibitor of angiogenesis, AGM-1470, in suppressing the vascularization and growth of human Schwann cell tumors [146]. After injection into the sciatic nerve of nude mice and propagation in multiple mouse-to-mouse passages, the orthoxenograft models were standardized and validated and used for preclinical drug testing [147]. Genomic and transcriptomic datasets resulting from 55 tumor samples derived from 23 individuals are currently available with clinical annotation in NF Data Portal and at http://synapse.org/jhubiobank [148]. Thus, PDX models are an important translational tool [149, 150].

Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell model to study MPNST:

The advent of somatic cell reprogramming using the “Yamanaka factors” to reprogram mouse embryonic fibroblasts [151] and its subsequent application to human cells [152] has revolutionized the study of disease. This technique has been leveraged by the NF1 field: NF1-mutant human induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (hiPSCs) have been generated from pNF cells from NF1 patients as a model system to study pNF and test potential treatments [153]. Wild-type hiPSCs in which CRISPR is used to introduce patient-based NF1 mutations are being used to study the effect of particular mutations on cellular phenotypes [154, 155], Likewise, NF1 mutations introduced using CRISPR together with mutations in other potential genes of interest is underway to study the mechanisms by which pNF transitions to ANNUBP and ultimately to MPNST [155-157].

Biology of MPNST

MPNSTs are complex, heterogeneous tumors, and no two MPNSTs are the same. Genetic analyses aimed at elucidating the molecular mechanisms driving MPNST development have identified key signaling pathways that play a role in MPNST development.

RAS/MAPK pathway: Dysregulation of the MAPK pathway - also known as the Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK pathway - has been shown to play a role in many different cancer types, and it is a key RAS effector pathway in neurofibromatosis: In NF1, mutation/loss of NF1 increases GTP-bound RAS, which in turn activates the MAPK pathway. This involves a cascade of kinase activity in which RAS activates RAF, RAF activates MEK, and MEK activates ERK, ultimately transducing signals to regulate gene expression that alters cell growth, proliferation, survival, and differentiation (Fig. 2). The MAPK pathway has been shown to be upregulated in a majority of MPNSTs [158]. As discussed in section 5.5, activating mutations in BRAF have also been identified in MPNST, and are found more frequently in sporadic MPNST than NF1-associated MPNST [40, 71]. While the MEK inhibitor selumetinib is the first and only FDA-approved targeted therapy for pNF [14], the efficacy of this drug as a monotherapy has not been tested for MPNST (see section 9.1 for further discussion).

PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway: Another key RAS effector signaling pathway is the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Studies have shown that the mTOR pathway becomes constitutively activated when NF1 is mutated and RAS is upregulated [159, 160]. When activated, phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) phosphorylates AKT which in turn phosphorylates and inactivates tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (TSC2) a negative regulator of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), thus activating mTOR, a serine threonine kinase. Two distinct complexes contain mTOR: 1) mTORC1, which contains mTOR, raptor (regulatory protein associated with mTOR), and mLST8 (mammalian lethal with Sec13 protein 8), and 2) mTORC2, which contains mTOR, mLST8, rictor (rapamycin insensitive companion of mTOR), and deptor (DEP domain containing mTOR interacting protein). These two complexes act as transmitters of external signals such as nutrient availability, growth factor stimulation, hypoxia, etc. to effect changes in cell proliferation, growth, metabolism, and autophagy (reviewed in [161]. Endo et al. found that between 47–63% of MPNSTs were positive for mTOR pathway activation (as measured by p-AKT, p-mTOR, p-S6RP, p-p70S6K, and p-4E-BP1), and that positivity for both p-AKT and p-mTOR was associated with aggressive behavior and worse prognosis [162]. Additionally, PTEN, a tumor suppressor gene and negative regulator of the mTOR pathway, was shown to be down-regulated in some MPNSTs due to promoter methylation [163]. This pathway is therefore a prime target for therapeutic inhibition (see section 9.1).

Hippo pathway: The HIPPO pathway, which was initially discovered in Drosophila and is evolutionary conserved, is dysregulated in a variety of cancers. The pathway involves a cascade of kinases including mammalian sterile kinase-20 1/2 (MST1/2) kinases, which when activated phosphorylate the large tumor suppressor 1/2 (LATS1/2) kinases. These in turn phosphorylate Yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ), keeping them sequestered in the cytoplasm via binding to the 14–3-3 protein. When the pathway is inhibited, YAP and TAZ are not phosphorylated and they translocate into the nucleus, interact with the transcription factors TEAD1–4 (TEA domain family member), and regulate transcription of genes involved in cell proliferation, cell differentiation, and apoptosis (Fig. 2) (reviewed in [164]. In 2011, Yang et al. performed an array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) analysis on 51 human MPNST samples and found copy number alterations in components of the HIPPO pathway [61]. Subsequently, Wu et al. found a YAP gene signature to be highly enriched in a gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) of two different MPNST cohorts, and also observed strong nuclear YAP and TAZ expression in patient MPNST samples compared to benign neurofibromas [165]. They also showed that Lats1 deletion in mice driven by Dhh-Cre results in MPNST-like tumor development [165]. In 2019, Isfort et al. also reported strong nuclear expression of YAP and TAZ in human MPNSTs [166]. Together, these data demonstrate a role for the HIPPO pathway in MPNST development and provide additional therapeutic targets.

Wnt pathway: The Wnt signaling pathway has also been shown to play a role in many types of cancer [167]. In the canonical Wnt pathway, signaling begins with binding of Wnt ligands to Frizzled receptors, ultimately leading to stabilization of β-catenin, which translocates to the nucleus, binds with the transcription factors, T cell factor (TCF)-lymphoid enhancer factor (LEF), and regulates gene transcription. In the absence of Wnt signaling, β-catenin is phosphorylated by glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) and casein kinase 1 (CK1), targeting it for ubiquitination and degradation. In 2013, Watson et al. performed a forward genetic screen in mice using the Sleeping Beauty transposon system to induce oncogenic changes in Schwann cell precursor cells and Schwann cells to drive tumor formation [98]. The screen identified several genes of the canonical Wnt pathway as drivers of neurofibroma and MPNST, and these tumors exhibited strong nuclear β-catenin staining. The upregulation of these genes in human MPNST samples confirmed the activation of the Wnt pathway. Further, activation of the Wnt pathway in immortalized human Schwann cells caused them to display oncogenic properties, although these cells did not form tumors when injected into mice. Interestingly, Watson et al. also identified Wnt5a, a ligand for the non-canonical Wnt signaling pathway, as being upregulated in MPNST samples using a gene expression microarray [98]. That same year, Luscan et al. similarly reported upregulation of the Wnt5a ligand in MPNST cell lines and patient MPNSTs [168]. More recently, Thomson et al. reported that knockdown of Wnt5a in MPNST cells surprisingly increased tumor growth, and these cells express genes involved in immune regulation and extracellular remodeling [169]. These data suggest that Wnt5a acts as a tumor suppressor in MPNST, likely via effects on the tumor microenvironment.

Roles of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and NF1 heterogeneity in MPNST development:

In addition to the neoplastic Schwann cells, MPNSTs contain a complex TME that includes fibroblasts, endothelial cells, mast cells, pericytes, etc. A critical role for the TME in neurofibroma has been well established in mouse models. In 2002, Zhu et al. used conditional mouse knockouts to show that loss of Nf1 in Schwann cells is necessary but not sufficient for neurofibroma development: Nf1;Krox20-cre mice but not Nf1;Krox20-cre mice developed pNF, demonstrating a requirement for Nf1 heterozygosity in the cells of the TME [170]. Interestingly, they observed invasion of Nf1+/− mast cells into the tumors. Subsequently, Yang et al. reported that transplantation of Nf1+/− bone marrow into lethally irradiated Nf1;Krox20-cre mice resulted in pNF formation, and demonstrated genetically and pharmacologically that the Nf1+/− tumor-infiltrating bone marrow cells were mast cells, further supporting the role of Nf1+/− mast cells in neurofibroma initiation and progression [171]. On the other hand, Dhh-Cre; Nf1 mice [172] and Plp-CreERT; Nf1 mice induced with tamoxifen on post-natal day 1 develop pNF suggesting that Nf1-heterozygosity is not always required. In the case of the Plp-CreERT; Nf1 model, some mice go on to develop MPNST [26].

The role of the TME in MPNST development is less clear. In 2017, Dodd et al. reported that Nf1+/− hematopoietic stem cells accelerated development of MPNST in their GEM model, which was generated by injection of adenovirus-Cre into the sciatic nerve of Nf1; Ink4a/Arf mice [141]. However, in 2018, Brosseau et al. reported that while an Nf1-heterozygous tumor microenvironment is required for neurofibroma formation, it may be inhibitory for malignant progression [26]. Using Plp-CreERT2; Nf1 mice and Plp-CreERT2; Nf1 mice, which are Nf1-null only in Schwann cells or Nf1-null in Schwann cells and Nf1-heterozygous in all other cells, respectively, they show that an Nf1-heterozygous microenvironment impairs MPNST development [26]. This finding aligns with the fact that NF1 patients (who are NF1-heterozygous in all cells of the body) rarely develop cancers that develop in patients with sporadic NF1 mutation, such as lung, ovarian, and melanoma, suggesting that the NF1-heterozygous TME somehow impairs development of certain tumor types. Further studies need to be done to better understand the role of the TME in MPNST development.

Current management of MPNST

Surgical management of MPNST:

Current management of MPNST is similar to that of soft tissue sarcomas, relying on local control measures in both adult and pediatric populations [173-175]. Diagnosis of MPNST is based primarily on clinical suspicion. A patient with a known history of NF1 or who shows the characteristic symptoms and presents with a tumor that rapidly increases in size and causes neurologic symptoms and/or pain is suspected to have a MPNST [21, 174, 176].

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is often used to locate the site and determine the size and invasiveness of neurofibroma tumors, as the imaging enhances the contrast between tumor and adjacent tissues. However, MRI and/or computerized tomography (CT) imaging do not reliably determine malignant transformation [173, 177–179]. Positron emission tomography with the glucose analog 18fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET) can detect increased metabolism in malignant tumors allowing for successful discrimination of MPNST from pNF. FDG-PET also allows for estimation of the grade of the malignant tumor in a heterogeneous lesion [177, 180, 181]. Currently, quantitative FDG-PET imaging used in conjunction with CT or MRI offers the best ability to distinguish between benign tumors and MPNST [182, 183].

Once the diagnosis of MPNST is made, surgical resection of the tumor is the only curative therapy available. For surgery to be successful, the tumor should be completely removed with wide (2 cm) negative margins [173, 174, 184]. Patients who have had incomplete excision of tumors show significantly increased risk of local and distant recurrence compared to those who have had complete tumor resection [185]. However, complete resection of the tumor is not always possible due to the location/and or size of the tumor and avoiding postoperative morbidity can be challenging [185-187]. Therefore, for high-grade tumors (>5 cm) for which complete resection cannot be achieved, adjuvant radiotherapy is recommended [19, 173, 184, 186, 188].

Radiation Therapy:

As part of a multimodality approach to treating these aggressive tumors, radiation therapy can also be administered locally, either preoperatively or postoperatively. However, there are some potential risks: Preoperative radiotherapy can cause short-term wound healing issues while postoperative radiotherapy can affect long-term function, and result in fibrosis and edema in soft tissue sarcomas [173, 186, 189, 190]. Therefore, careful clinical consideration is required to decide between preoperative and postoperative radiotherapy. Some studies have demonstrated that postoperative radiotherapy is effective in preventing local recurrence of tumors without providing an overall survival advantage [188, 190] while others concluded that postoperative radiotherapy increases both 5-year disease-free and overall survival of MPNST patients [191, 192]. Additionally, radiation therapy can increase the mutational burden of the tumor, thereby making it even more aggressive, and can also induce secondary malignancies [193, 194].

Medical Management:

Currently there is no consensus on the use of chemotherapy for treatment of MPNST [184, 195]. The available data regarding the use of chemotherapy against MPNST is mostly derived from histologically unselected populations of soft tissue sarcomas [173, 196, 197]. A recent phase II clinical trial conducted by the Sarcoma Alliance for Research (SARC) reported that NF1-associated MPNST patients respond poorly to chemotherapy compared to those with sporadic MPNST in terms of tumor size reduction. However, both groups achieved disease stabilization after 4 rounds of chemotherapy [198]. Similarly, another study with European pediatric MPNST patients reported that NF1-dependent MPNST show inferior responses to chemotherapy relative to sporadic MPNST [199]. Therefore, the use of chemotherapy must be an individualized decision based on the medical condition of the patient and the estimated risk of tumor recurrence. As there are no successful curative therapies for patients with recurrent, unresectable, or metastatic disease, these patients could benefit from enrolling in clinical trials.

Translating Current Research in the Laboratory into Future Therapies for MPNST:

Based on information gleaned from genomic analyses of MPNST that have identified key pathways and genes involved in MPNST development, as well as preclinical studies, a number of clinical trials have been performed or are underway to test candidate therapies.

Targeting Receptor Tyrosine Kinase (RTK) signaling: Growth factors like EGFR, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), and PDGFR, as well as hormones, cytokines, neurotrophic factors, and other extracellular signaling molecules like the proto-oncogene c-KIT can bind to the RTK family of cell-surface receptors. These ligands regulate normal cellular processes including survival, proliferation, differentiation, and migration. Dysregulation of RTK signaling due to a variety of genetic and epigenetic alterations is a common cause of cell transformation, cancer development, and metastasis. Mutations that activate RTKs or components of downstream pathways such as MAPK, PI3K/AKT, and JAK/STAT have been identified in multiple cancers [200-203]. However, while direct inhibition of RTKs and inhibition of downstream pathways such as MAP kinase and PI3K/AKT pathways show moderate efficacy against MPNST in preclinical models, small molecule inhibitors such as imatinib and dasatinib, that target the PDGFR pathway and c-KIT, respectively, have not yielded significant outcomes in clinical trials against MPNST [56, 98, 204, 205].

Targeting key cellular pathways driving MPNST development:

As discussed in section 5.3, amplification of RTKs is frequently observed in MPNST. RTKs regulate a variety of key cellular processes making them a prime therapeutic target. In addition to amplification of these RTKs, expression of their respective ligands has also been found to be upregulated. Holtkamp et al. found that the EGFR ligands transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-α) and EGF are also expressed at higher levels in MPNSTs than in neurofibromas [55]. Also, growth of MPNST in the cisNP mouse model has been shown to be stimulated by EGF and delayed by EGFR inhibitors [55, 60, 206, 207]. Despite this, a phase II trial of erlotinib, an EGFR inhibitor, in metastatic or unresectable MPNST showed no obvious benefit [208]. The VEGF inhibitor bevacizumab in combination with the mTORC1 inhibitor everolimus also failed to show promise in a phase II MPNST study [209].

Targeting RAS or RAS-activated signaling pathways: The majority of MPNST are associated with inactivating mutations in the NF1 gene. Neurofibromin binds to the GTP-bound active form of RAS through its GAP-related domain (GRD) and enhances RAS’s intrinsic GTPase activity, ultimately functioning as an off-switch to all RAS proteins [2, 3, 210]. As discussed, inactivating mutations of NF1 therefore activate multiple effector pathways including the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK cascade [3, 211, 212]. RAS-GTP itself has been considered undruggable as its topology is not amenable to high affinity small molecule inhibition. However, a recent breakthrough has led to the development of direct RAS inhibitors that specifically target the glycine to cysteine mutation at residue 12 (G12C) in KRAS that is observed primarily in lung cancer [213]. As a result, RASG12C-specific inhibitors have entered phase I/II clinical trials against a variety of solid tumors that have a KRASG12C mutation, but do not include MPNST [3].

RAS proteins are post-translationally modified facilitating their membrane association. One such modification is farnesylation. Farnesyl transferase enzymes that catalyze this modification have been targeted therapeutically in NF1-deficient Schwann cells and NF1-dependent MPNST cells [214, 215]. However, this strategy has been unsuccessful in clinical trials for plexiform neurofibroma [216, 217].

An alternative to direct inhibition of RAS is to target signaling pathways downstream of activated RAS [46, 218]. Sorafenib, an orally administered, small-molecule RAF kinase and tyrosine kinase inhibitor has been shown to inhibit MAPK signaling and cell growth, and to induce G1 cell cycle arrest in MPNST cell lines in a B-raf-dependent fashion [219]. However, in a multicenter phase II trial, sorafenib showed no significant response, with overall survival of treated MPNST patients similar to controls [220]. A pharmacological MEK inhibitor, PD0325901, has been effective in controlling tumor growth in a neurofibroma mouse model and patient-derived MPNST xenografts [221], while another MEK inhibitor, selumetinib, has shown successful outcomes for symptomatic, unresectable plexiform neurofibroma in phase I and II clinical trials [14, 16]. Selumetinib is now approved by the FDA for treatment of NF1-associated plexiform neurofibroma, although it is unclear if MEK inhibition will be useful in the context of MPNST [222]. However, a promising report from Nagabushan et al. showed a sustained complete response with selumetinib monotherapy in an adolescent patient with recurrent MPNST [223].

As described earlier, the mTOR signaling pathway is also activated downstream of Ras [129], and expression of p-AKT, p-mTOR, and p-S6RP are associated with poor prognosis in MPNST patients [162]. However, while mTOR inhibitors in vitro and in xenografts have demonstrated tumor growth suppression, clinical trials have shown modest effect on pNF [162, 224, 225]. A direct mTOR kinase inhibitor that inhibits both mTORC1 and mTORC2 showed more promising results in NF1-dependent MPNST cell lines, sporadic MPNST cell lines, and plexiform neurofibroma-derived primary Schwann cells [226]. Combined mTOR and MAPK inhibition has shown synergistic effects in vitro and in vivo [227]. The combination of mTORC1 inhibitor sirolimus and MEK inhibitor selumetinib is currently being tested against MPNST in a phase II clinical trial (NCT03433183). MAPK-interacting kinases (MNKs), which converge on the mTORC1 effector eIF4E, have been therapeutic targets in NF1-deficient malignancies. Genetic and chemical inhibition of MNKs in NF1-deficient in vitro and in vivo models has been shown to kill the cancer cells through effects on eIF4E [130]. Also, co-inhibition of MNKs and MEK cause dramatic tumor regression in the cisNP mouse model of MPNST [130]. Therefore, combined MNK and MEK suppression represents a promising therapeutic strategy for Ras-driven tumors. Combination of mTOR inhibition with other signaling inhibitors has also been tested against MPNST. For example, dual inhibition of the mTOR pathway and the molecular chaperone hsp90 effectively abrogated the cellular stress response and caused cell death and tumor regression in the cisNP mouse MPNST model [131]. Despite this promising outcome, the Hsp90 inhibitor ganetespib, in combination with the mTOR inhibitor sirolimus has not shown success in MPNST patients in a phase I/II clinical trial [228]. Additionally, inhibition of the mTOR pathway with sapanisertib, along with histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition was shown to be selectively toxic to Ras-driven tumors, including human MPNST xenografts and the cisNP mouse model [229]. Moreover, the multi-kinase inhibitor PLX3397 in combination with rapamycin inhibited MPNST growth in xenografts [58] and is currently being tested in a phase II clinical trial (NCT02584647).

Targeting Cyclin-Dependent Kinases (CDKs): Loss-of-function mutations in the CDKN2A and the CDKN2B genes, which encode CDK inhibitors, are a feature of atypical neurofibromas and some MPNST. As these mutations lead to increased CDK4 or CDK6 activity, it is hypothesized that these tumors may become sensitive to CDK4/6 inhibitors. As such, CDK4/6 inhibition using ribociclib, an FDA-approved drug against breast cancer, in combination with doxorubicin is currently in phase II trial for MPNST (NCT03009201) [230].

Targeting epigenetic regulation associated with loss of Polycomb Repressor Complex 2 (PRC2) function:

Due to the diversity of secondary mutational hits that drive MPNST formation, no two MPNSTs are the same molecularly, a factor that likely contributes to treatment failure. A potentially more effective therapeutic strategy would be one that targets all MPNSTs regardless of this diversity. As discussed in section 5.4, mutations in epigenetic regulators have been identified in a high percentage of MPNST [65-67], and one approach would be to target these epigenetic alterations. Loss of function mutations in EED and SUZ12, essential components of PRC2, are often observed in MPNST, and most MPNST show decreased H3K27-di- and tri-methylation, which is mediated by EZH2, the enzymatic component of the PRC2 complex. BRD4 is involved in activation of Ras-mediated transcription through H3K27 acetylation, which is enhanced by loss of methylation at the same site. As a result, loss of PRC2 function sensitizes MPNST cells to BRD4 inhibition, providing a potential strategy to be further validated in preclinical models of MPNST and tested in clinical trials [65, 78, 231]. Unfortunately, a phase II study testing CPI-0610, a BET protein inhibitor (NCT02986919), on patients with MPNST was withdrawn due to lack of enrollment. This treatment strategy warrants further clinical investigation.

Synthetic lethality strategy for treating MPNST:

Synthetic lethality occurs when mutation in or suppression of two genes causes cell death, while mutation/suppression of one of these genes does not. This concept has been harnessed for genetic and drug screening of cancer cells, whereby mutation in a particular cancer gene may be associated with a therapeutic vulnerability that can be targeted, thus killing these cells. As non-cancer cells do not have this cancer gene mutation, they will be spared. Genetic screens using RNAi libraries or CRISPR/Cas9 libraries can be performed to identify gene products whose loss would result in cell death when combined with NF1 deficiency [157, 232, 233]. For example, a recent siRNA kinome screen by Guo et al. identified Polo-like Kinase 1 (PLK1) as a target in NF1-null MPNST cell lines [232]. They also showed that treatment of a mouse MPNST xenograft with the PLK1 inhibitor, volasertib, inhibited tumor growth. While CRISPR forward genetic screens have been reported for a number of cancer cell lines (reviewed in [234]), this type of screen has yet to be reported for NF1-deficient cells or MPNST cells. It is likely, however, that such screens are currently underway [233], and likely that they will identify novel therapeutic candidates.

Small molecule screening to identify novel therapies and new therapeutic targets:

High-throughput drug screening is an important tool for drug discovery, identifying chemical leads that can preferentially target tumor cells while sparing non-tumor cells, and small molecule drug screens can also identify synthetic lethal combinations. In the last decade, multiple such screens have been carried out to identify drugs that can target MPNST. For example, a medium throughput synthetic lethal screen using Nf1-null mouse embryonic fibroblasts identified cantharidin, a protein phosphatase 2 (PP2A) inhibitor, as well as nifedipine, a calcium antagonist as toxic against these cells but not Nf1-wildtype controls [235]. Cantharidin was also effective against human MPNST cells.

In 2011, Wood et al. carried out a screen using an NF1-null MPNST cell line, and identified UC1, a small molecule drug that killed these cells but not an NF1+/+ MPNST cell line [236]. Due to the concern that cultured cell lines can undergo genetic drift with passaging over time thereby having altered biology compared to the original cells, Chau et al. used primary cells isolated from a mouse MPNST model and expanded at low passage for their screen [63]. They identified “compound 21” (Cpd21), which inhibited cell growth in the original MPNST cells, as well as tumor cells from several other MPNST models. Extending their analyses to human MPNST cells, they found the drug was also effective against these cells, while growth of wild-type Schwann cells was not affected at similar doses.

In 2017, Kolberg et al. screened 299 clinical and investigational compounds for efficacy against several different MPNST cell lines [78]. They identified gemcitabine, a chemotherapeutic agent that has been in use clinically for more than two decades to treat many types of cancer, and inhibitors of polo-like kinase (PLK1), a cell cycle regulator. As discussed earlier, this finding was reproduced by Guo et al. who also identified PLK1 in both an siRNA kinome screen and a screen using ~2000 known chemical compounds [232]. In 2018, Kahen et al. reported a drug screen in which they also tested FDA-approved drugs alone or in combination against MPNST cell lines, and found that drug combinations targeting both the MEK and mTOR pathways were the most effective against NF1-null MPNSTs[237].

Following up on their finding that BRD4 levels are upregulated in MPNST, and that Brd4 or BET inhibition causes apoptotic cell death due to upregulation of Bim [64], Cooper et al. demonstrated synthetic lethality when Brd4 depletion was combined with BET inhibition to overcome resistance to BET inhibitors both in vitro and in vivo [238].

Conclusion and Future Perspectives

There is currently no targeted therapy for MPNST treatment and surgery remains the mainstay treatment. A concerted effort must be made to expand clinical trials and improve enrollment, and to identify novel therapeutic targets and compounds. While potentially interesting compounds have been identified in small molecule drug screens, they do not always show efficacy in preclinical mouse models, and if they do, this success does not always translate to the clinic. Most drugs identified in these screens have yet to show efficacy in clinical trials. This may be in part due to the cell types used for the screens: using human cells for screening rather than mouse could potentially improve the success rate. Additionally, using CRISPR gene editing of human iPSCs to engineer specific patient-based mutations could provide a platform for identifying more effective drugs. Still, these screens hold the promise of identifying novel compounds for drug development, as well as identifying candidates for combination therapy, which is more likely to maximize efficacy and minimize toxicity resulting in a more successful treatment strategy.

Another potential reason for MPNST clinical trial failures is the patient population that is enrolled. Currently, MPNST patients who are enrolled in a drug trial will typically have first exhausted all available treatment options, including radiation therapy and multiple rounds of non-specific chemotherapy with different DNA-damaging agents. As these treatments are not curative, and the tumors usually return and/or continue to grow, these patients may then be enrolled in a clinical trial. This is likely the wrong strategy, as MPNSTs are already genetically unstable and the above treatments (radiation and chemotherapy) can cause additional mutations, making the MPNSTs even more aggressive and changing the tumor molecularly from what it was at initial diagnosis. This may also be a reason for the failure of many clinical trials. Thus, it is possible that if MPNST patients were enrolled in a clinical trial at the time of diagnosis (if determined to be a non-surgical candidate), then clinical trial outcomes might be improved. Of course, this approach would require a major paradigm shift in current treatment regimens, and how, or more accurately “when” we perform clinical trials for MPNST in the future.