Abstract: The present inventions features methods for treating or preventing cancer (e.g., cancer of the central nervous system) by administering a compound that inhibits PAK kinase activity and/or merlin phosphorylation to a mammal (e.g., a human). The invention also provides screening methods for identifying additional inhibitors of PAK kinase activity and/or merlin phosphorylation.

Abstract: The invention features methods for treating and preventing a peripheral nerve sheath tumor in a mammal such as a human. The methods involve administering to the mammal a compound that modulates the biological activity of a gonatropic steroid receptor, such as the progesterone receptor in an amount sufficient to inhibit the growth of the peripheral nerve sheath tumor. The mammal may be administered with the compound alone or in combination with a second therapeutic regimen. Also disclosed are screening methods that make use of gonatropic steroid receptors for the identification of novel therapeutics for PNSTs.