Circulating Tumor DNA and Neoadjuvant Therapy in Localized Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma – A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Clicks: 1
ID: 315785
2026
Free PDF
Article Quality & Performance Metrics
Overall Quality
Not rated
Combines reader engagement with the AI quality analysis. This article has not been analysed, so there is no overall score — reader engagement is measured and shown alongside.
AI Quality Assessment
Not analyzed
Readership in this journal

Ranked #354 of 432 articles by views in the british journal of surgery

Most read Least read

Bar heights use a square-root scale. Only the 120 most-read articles are drawn; the journal has 432 in total.

Mint this article as an NFT
Not yet minted

Create a permanent, verifiable on-chain record of this article on the Scimatic Network. The NFT is held in your Journament account, and you can withdraw it to your own wallet at any time.

5 SUSD one-off · no wallet required
Sign in to mint
Abstract
Abstract Background ctDNA is increasingly investigated as a biomarker in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), but its role in guiding treatment decisions before, during, and after neoadjuvant treatment (NAT) remains unclear. Aims This study aims to synthesize the current evidence on the predictive value of ctDNA in localized pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma PDAC, with a particular focus on its potential to guide clinical decision-making before, during, and after NAT. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis (Prospero: CRD420251013013) of studies evaluating ctDNA in patients with localized PDAC treated with NAT was conducted. Meta-analyses were performed for OS and PFS when ≥2 studies reported outcomes. Results 15 studies, representing 926 patients, met the inclusion criteria. Five studies measured ctDNA using a PCR-only assay, five using only NGS, and four studies used both methods. All studies targeted KRAS mutations for ctDNA assessment, with substantial heterogeneity in assay platforms, thresholds, and sampling timing. Baseline ctDNA detection ranged from 11-73% across resectability categories. Baseline ctDNA positivity was associated with worse PFS (2 studies, pooled HR 2.34, 95% CI 1.21-4.54), but association with OS could not be demonstrated (3 studies, pooled HR 1.50, 95% CI 0.96-2.37). An association between post-NAT ctDNA status and PFS or OS could not be quantitatively investigated. Postoperative ctDNA positivity was associated with inferior OS (2 studies, pooled HR 6.39, 95% CI 1.94-21.01). Conclusion Evidence supporting ctDNA as a biomarker to guide NAT in localized PDAC is limited and inconsistent. Postoperative ctDNA was strongly associated with poor OS, whereas larger studies are needed to assess baseline and post-NAT ctDNA.
Reference Key
openalex_W7163424737 Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors N Aegerter, V Padoan, S Kandala, B Groot Koerkamp
Journal the british journal of surgery
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/bjs/znag055.027
URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/bjs/znag055.027
Keywords Keywords not found

Citations

No citations found. To add a citation, contact the admin at info@scimatic.org

Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment on this article.