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Understanding Pancreatic Cancer DNA in Blood During Chemotherapy

This study is for people with pancreatic cancer that has not spread beyond the pancreas and nearby lymph nodes, who are receiving chemotherapy. Researchers want to see if they can find pancreatic cancer DNA (called circulating tumor DNA or ctDNA) in your blood before, during, and after your treatment. The goal is to understand how chemotherapy affects this ctDNA and if its presence or absence can help doctors make better treatment decisions for future patients. The study will look at how many patients have no ctDNA detected in their blood after 3 months of treatment. This is an observational study, meaning you will not receive any new treatments as part of this research.

Study design
This is an observational study planning to enroll 500 participants. It is not specified if it is randomized or blinded.
What's involved
Not specified in the trial record.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
The primary endpoint is measured at 3 months, focusing on ctDNA levels.

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NCT04616131

Evaluating the Prognostic Capability of ctDNA as a Biomarker in Pancreatic Cancer Patients Undergoing Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

Recruiting
Not specifiedAges 18+Observational
Northwestern University
~500 participants
Updated 2026-06-18 on ClinicalTrials.gov

At a glance

Recruiting sites
3 of 3 listed sites are recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Number of patients with circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) levels as not detectable in their blood compared to number of patients with ctDNA detected.
Measured over 3 months

Conditions

Pancreas Cancer

Explore related trials

Pancreatic AdenocarcinomaCirculating Tumor-Derived DNA Negative

Where it's being run

3 sites across 1 states
Illinois3

Study leadership

  • Akhil Chawla, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Northwestern Medicine Warrenville

Who to contact

Study Coordinator
[email protected]
3126951301
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Biopsy or cytology proven adenocarcinoma of the pancreas
No clinical evidence of metastatic disease on imaging
Age 18 or older
Receiving chemotherapy for non-metastatic pancreatic cancer

Exclusion

Biopsy proven metastatic disease

What this trial measures

  • Number of patients with circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) levels as not detectable in their blood compared to number of patients with ctDNA detected.3 months

    Utilizing Tempus, a commercial laboratory ctDNA genetic profile panel investigators will analyze the number of patients who had detectable ctDNA in their blood prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy who then had no detectable ctDNA after their chemotherapy treatment.