Using previously published RNA-seq data that identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) following Ref-1 knockdown23 and an independent gene expression dataset consisting of MPNST cell lines, NF1-derived neurofibroma Schwann cells and MPNST and NF1 tissue samples, we were able to identify genes that are upregulated specifically in MPNST,24,25 which can then be downregulated with inhibition of Ref-1 or STAT3 in MPNST. Here, APEX1 is linked to plexiform neurofibroma.