Journal of Neurology | September 12, 2022

R. Velasco, A. A. Argyriou, C. Marco, S. Mariotto, A. Stradella, J. Hernández, S. Pernas, S. Ferrari & J. Bruna 

J Neurol 270, 531–537 (2023)

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-022-11377-4

Abstract

Introduction

Paclitaxel-induced peripheral neurotoxicity (PIPN) typically manifests as a predominantly sensory axonopathy. Nerve conduction studies (NCS) represent the gold standard method to quantify axonal impairment in PIPN. Serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) levels are emerging biomarkers for quantifying axonal damage in peripheral neuropathies. To date, the association between NCS abnormalities and sNfL levels during paclitaxel-based chemotherapy has not been specifically addressed.

Methods

We prospectively conducted longitudinal measurement of sNfL levels in 27 chemotherapy-naïve breast cancer patients and correlated conventional NCS recordings with sNfL in 22 of them, before (T0) and after (T1) 12 cycles of weekly paclitaxel-based therapy.

Results

PIPN was diagnosed in 24/27 patients (88%) after completion of the 12-week paclitaxel-based chemotherapy regimen. Serum NfL levels (pg/mL) were significantly higher at T1 compared to T0 (T0: 18.50 ± 12.88 vs T1: 255.80 ± 194.16; p < 0.001). The increase of sNfL levels at T1 significantly correlated with the decrease or abolishment of amplitudes recorded from the sural nerve (r = 0.620; p = 0.0035), sensory radial (r = 0.613; p = 0.005), sensory ulnar (r = 0.630; p = 0.005), and peroneal motor (r = 0.568; p = 0.024) nerves.

Conclusion

sNfL levels proportionally increase during chemotherapy administration and significantly correlate with NCS axonal abnormalities in patients with PIPN. A multimodal testing approach employing both sNfL and NCS might improve the PIPN diagnostic accuracy.