NF2 and neoplasm: • Sporadic VS samples demonstrated a 4.25-fold higher CXCR4 mRNA expression than control samples and in NF2-associated VS expression was 4.9-times higher compared to the control group • A nonsignificant trend toward higher CXCR4 expression levels in patients with greater hearing impairment. Tumor growth patterns prior to surgery and tumor extension at the time of surgery did not correlate with the CXCR4 mRNA expression level. • Double immunofluorescence demonstrated that both CXCR4 and CXCL12, the CXCR4 ligand, were expressed mainly in S100 Schwann cells