NFB-09. ENROLLMENT AND CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF NEWLY DIAGNOSED, NEUROFIBROMATOSIS TYPE 1 ASSOCIATED OPTIC PATHWAY GLIOMA (NF1-OPG): PRELIMINARY RESULTS FROM AN INTERNATIONAL MULTI-CENTER NATURAL HISTORY STUDY

Because treatment and clinical management decisions for children with NF1-OPG remain challenging, we sought to establish evidence-based guidelines. We prospectively enrolled children with newly-diagnosed NF1-OPGs, and gathered standardized clinical neuro-oncology and ophthalmology assessments.

Only children with NF1 and newly diagnosed OPGs, confirmed by central review, were eligible. Indications for obtaining the initial MRI, as well as factors associated with the decision to treat with chemotherapy or observe without treatment, were obtained. Quantitative visual acuity (VA), other ophthalmic features, and imaging were captured at standard time points. Goal enrollment is 250 subjects.

One-hundred thirty-three children (52% female) from 20 institutions met inclusion criteria, and were included in this preliminary analysis. Eighty-six percent of subjects were able to perform quantitative VA testing at enrollment. The most common reasons for the diagnostic MRI included screening related to NF1 diagnosis (36.8%), ophthalmologic concerns (29.3%), and non-ophthalmologic concerns (24.8%), such as headache. To date, twenty subjects have initiated treatment with chemotherapy, twelve (9%) at the time of the initial OPG diagnosis. Median age at OPG diagnosis was 3.1 years. Age and sex distribution were similar in subjects immediately entering the observation and treatment arms (median age 3.0 versus 3.5 years, respectively).

Most children with NF1-OPGs are observed at time of their initial OPG diagnosis, rather than treated. Importantly, a large proportion of children are able to complete quantitative VA testing at enrollment. Once enrollment is complete, these data will help to establish evidence-based guidelines for clinical management of NF1-OPGs.