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Annals of clinical and translational neurology
Published

Increased Blood Levels of NfL, GFAP, and Placental Growth Factor After Radiotherapy to the Brain

Authors

Erik Fernström, Thomas Björk-Eriksson, Pontus Erickson, Jan Nyman, Henrik Zetterberg, Marie Kalm

Abstract

Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2025 Dec 9. doi: 10.1002/acn3.70278. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

In this study, we analyzed biomarkers of neuronal, glial, and vascular injury in longitudinal paired samples of blood and cerebrospinal fluid after prophylactic cranial irradiation in patients with small cell lung cancer. Neurofilament light chain protein (NfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) increased in serum and cerebrospinal fluid after irradiation; serum NfL correlated with cerebrospinal fluid values, apparently independent of blood-brain barrier function, whereas GFAP correlations were weaker. Although several patients developed brain metastases, linear mixed model results were consistent with an independent effect of radiotherapy on serum NfL and GFAP. Serum placental growth factor also rose and correlated with the albumin ratio. Our results support a radiotherapy-associated increase of NfL and GFAP in blood.

PMID:41366631 | DOI:10.1002/acn3.70278

UK DRI Authors

Profile picture of Henrik Zetterberg

Prof Henrik Zetterberg

Group Leader

Pioneering the development of fluid biomarkers for dementia

Prof Henrik Zetterberg