Blood test may decide who needs surgery for rectal cancer

NCT ID NCT07209215

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This phase 2 trial tests whether a highly sensitive blood test (ctDNA) can help manage treatment for 200 people with early-stage rectal cancer. After standard chemotherapy and radiation, some patients will have their treatment guided by the blood test results instead of immediate surgery. The study aims to see if this approach can achieve similar cancer control while possibly avoiding unnecessary surgery.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

Signatera Genome ultra-sensitive ctDNA blood test

What this could lead to

If successful, this could show that a blood test helps doctors decide who needs surgery and who can safely avoid it after initial treatment.

What could go wrong

This is an early-phase study with only 200 participants. The blood test may not be accurate enough to guide decisions, and results may not apply to all patients.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

rectal cancer rectal neoplasm rectum adenocarcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • University of California Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Sacramento, California, 95817, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••