Methylation of ADAMTS1 was found to be positive in cfDNA of 87.5% (7/8) patients with stage I cancer, 77.8% (7/9) of stage IIA, 90% (18/20) of stage IIB, and 100% (2/2) of stage III/IV pancreatic cancer patients. This evidence concerns the gene ADAMTS1 and familial pancreatic carcinoma.