NF1 and juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia: NF1 is a common human disorder characterized by benign and malignant tumors of neural crest origin, pigmentation defects, learning disorders, cardiovascular abnormalities and a wide spectrum of other abnormalities including a predilection for leukemia (especially juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia, [JMML]) and vascular defects (Cichowski and Jacks, 2001; Friedman et al., 2002).