Timing of adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy in colorectal cancers

Surgery remains the only curative therapy for colorectal cancer (CRC); however, several studies have proved that adjuvant chemotherapy improves the curative rate. A growing body of evidence indicates that significant deviations from recommended treatment plans are frequent. Patients may experience delays in the administration of adjuvant chemotherapy that can reduce its survival benefit. To date, few studies have examined factors associated with the timing of adjuvant chemotherapy or have described the effects of delayed therapy on overall survival. In this review, we discuss the extent and predictors of delay in administration of adjuvant chemotherapy as well as the relationship between timing and outcomes in CRC.