Evaluation of serum biomarkers associated with radiographic progression in methotrexate-naive rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with methotrexate or golimumab.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate associations between biomarkers and radiographic progression in methotrexate (MTX)-naive patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with MTX or golimumab, a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (with or without MTX).

METHODS: Serum samples from 152 MTX-naive adults with active RA who received placebo + MTX (n = 37) or golimumab (combined 50 mg + MTX or 100 mg ± MTX; n = 115) were analyzed for selected markers of inflammation and bone/cartilage turnover. One hundred patients were randomly selected for additional protein profiling using multianalyte profiles (HumanMap v1.6, Rules Based Medicine). Radiographs at baseline, Week 28, and Week 52 were scored using van der Heijde-Sharp (vdH-S) methodology. Correlations were assessed between biomarker levels (baseline and change at Week 4) and joint space narrowing, erosion, and total vdH-S scores (changes at Weeks 28 and 52). Statistical significance was defined as a correlation coefficient with an absolute value ≥ 0.3 and p < 0.05.

RESULTS: Biomarker correlations with changes in vdH-S scores at Week 28 and/or 52 were observed predominantly in the placebo + MTX group and rarely in the combined golimumab treatment group. Changes in epidermal growth factor (EGF) and CD40 ligand (CD40L) at Week 4 were positively correlated with changes in total vdH-S scores at Weeks 28 and 52 in the placebo + MTX group.

CONCLUSION: These preliminary findings indicate that EGF and CD40L may have utility in monitoring MTX-treated patients with RA who are more likely to have radiographic progression as measured by increases in vdH-S scores.