Enhanced Surveillance of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Recurrence following curative-intent surgery for pancreatic cancer is common, and underlies the single-digit cure rates that characterize this disease. Current detection strategies rely on cross-sectional imaging, which typically identify gross metastatic disease at a point when it is difficult to treat effectively. Thus, it would be highly useful to adopt novel detection strategies that can identify a lower (i.e. microscopic) disease burden, when therapy would potentially be most effective.

We have teamed up with Natera to perform the first large-scale analysis of molecular residual disease in patients undergoing curative-intent treatment for pancreatic cancer, using custom circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) assays based on each individual patient’s unique tumor mutations.

These early studies will help us understand how dynamic changes in ctDNA throughout and following treatment impact recurrence and survival outcomes. The long-term goal of these efforts is to devise improved detection strategies that can then be used to align patients with more effective treatment options.