Plasma Neurofilament Light Chain and Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein Levels Are Prognostic of Disability Worsening: A Biosignature That Helps Differentiating Active From Non-active SPMS
Jens Kuhle1, Aleksandra Maleska Maceski1, Rolf Meinert2, Inga Ludwig3, Thomas Hach3, Ludwig Kappos1, David Leppert*1, Harald Kropshofer*3
1Neurologic Clinic and Policlinic and Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience, Departments of Medicine, Clinical Research, Biomedicine and Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland, 2DATAMAP GmbH, Freiburg, Germany, 3Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland
Objective:
To explore the value of a biosignature of combined plasma neurofilament light chain (pNfL) and plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein (pGFAP) as a prognostic marker of disability worsening in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS).
Background:

NfL correlated with disease activity and was shown to be a treatment response marker mainly in active SPMS (aSPMS), whereas GFAP was responsive to treatment effects in both aSPMS and non-active SPMS (naSPMS) patients. Therefore, the combined information of both markers may enable to refine the identification of patients at risk for progression.

Design/Methods:

In this post-hoc analysis of the EXPAND study (core+extension), we quantified baseline pNfL and pGFAP levels using Single Molecule Array technology. Time-to-3-month confirmed disability worsening (3mCDW), time-to-Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS)7.0, and time-to-1-point-sustained EDSS worsening by baseline pNfL and pGFAP categories (pNfL: low [<30pg/mL] versus high [≥30pg/mL]; pGFAP: low [<130pg/mL] versus high [≥130pg/mL) were assessed using a Cox-regression model adjusted for age, gender, disease duration, treatment, relapses in the 24months before study initiation, and baseline EDSS. Analyses were conducted in patients with aSPMS versus naSPMS.

Results:

Samples from 1369/1651 patients were analyzed. In naSPMS patients (n=704), the high-high signature showed the higher hazard ratios (HRs) versus the low-low signature across all disability outcomes: time-to-EDSS 7.0 (2.65, p=0.0014), time-to-1-point-sustained EDSS worsening (1.57, p=0.0176), and time-to-3mCDW (1.45, p=0.0151). Higher HRs were also found with the high-low signature (range: 2.09-1.17 across all three outcomes; p<0.05, except for time-to-EDSS 7.0). In aSPMS patients (n=665), the higher risk of disability worsening was associated with the high-low signature for time-to-3mCDW (HR, 1.65; p<0.05) and time-to-1-point-sustained EDSS worsening (HR, 1.66; p<0.05), and the high-high signature for time-to-EDSS 7.0 (HR, 1.38; p>0.05).

Conclusions:
High-pNfL in combination with high-pGFAP signature consistently indicated a higher risk of disability worsening in naSPMS, while the added value of combining GFAP and NfL was less apparent in aSPMS.