Study summary
A blood test after surgery flags who is likely to relapse
8.11×higher risk of a worse disease-free survival if ctDNA was detected after surgery
What was tested
A pooled look at tumor-informed circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) blood tests, taken after surgery for pancreatic cancer, as a predictor of relapse.
What they found
- Detectable ctDNA after surgery was linked to a much higher chance of relapse on scans (relative risk 2.50) and a worse disease-free survival (hazard ratio 8.11) and overall survival (hazard ratio 5.15).
- A negative ctDNA test did not reliably rule out leftover cancer.
What it means
A strong early-warning signal, but still a research tool: no trial yet shows that changing treatment based on the result helps people live longer.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team.
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