Studies to Assess the Utility of Serum Neurofilament Light Chain as a Biomarker in Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

Simple Summary Since neuroaxonal damage and loss are observed in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and results in permanent disability, detecting and monitoring neuropathy with a serum biomarker would be advantageous in identifying the development, severity, and resolution of CIPN. We report here the results of two separate non-interventional studies (49 patients) that evaluated blood neurofilament light chain (NfL) as a biomarker of CIPN in breast cancer patients treated with paclitaxel. NfL was measured in serum using an ultrasensitive single-molecule array and compared with the self-administered European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-CIPN twenty-item scale (CIPN20) and Total Neuropathy Score clinical version (TNSc), a clinician-reported measure of neuropathy progression. Both NfL and TNSc were associated with the cumulative dose of chemotherapy and CIPN20 sensory subscore after chemotherapy. These findings provided evidence that serum NfL in breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy has the potential to be used as a biomarker to monitor and mitigate CIPN, although studies with additional patients planned in the ongoing clinical trial will determine the universal application of NfL as a biomarker in CIPN.Abstract Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is one of the most common and disabling dose-limiting toxicities of chemotherapy. We report here the results of two separate non-interventional studies (49 patients), which evaluated blood neurofilament light chain (NfL) as a biomarker of CIPN in breast cancer patients treated with paclitaxel. All patients underwent a standard treatment protocol that was established independently of the present studies. NfL was measured in serum using an ultrasensitive single-molecule array and compared with the self-administered European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-CIPN twenty-item scale (CIPN20) and Total Neuropathy Score clinical version (TNSc), a clinician-reported measure of neuropathy progression. The TNSc increased with cumulative dose compared with baseline, and the NfL concentrations were also strongly associated with the cumulative dose of chemotherapy. The analysis showed a correlation between TNSc and NfL. Both TNSc and NfL showed weak to moderate associations with CIPN20 subscores, with a better association for the CIPN20 sensory compared with motor and autonomic subscores. Data from the two studies provide evidence that serum NfL has the potential to be used as a biomarker to monitor and mitigate CIPN. However, studies with additional patients planned in the ongoing clinical trial will determine the universal application of NfL as a biomarker in CIPN.

Automated summary

Two studies demonstrate that blood neurofilament light chain (NfL) can be used as a biomarker to monitor and mitigate chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). NfL is strongly associated with cumulative dose of chemotherapy and CIPN20 sensory subscore. Although further studies with more patients are planned in an ongoing clinical trial, these findings provide evidence of the potential use of serum NfL as a biomarker for CIPN in breast cancer patients.