Impact of delaying adjuvant chemotherapy in colon cancer: A Brazilian experience.

e14027 Background: The optimal timing to initiation adjuvant chemotherapy in colon cancer is unknown. Studies suggest that the delay to start chemotherapy may compromise the therapeutic outcome. The purpose of this study was to assess the reasons for delaying adjuvant treatment and the implications in clinical outcome of patients treated in a public institution from Brazil. Methods: Retrospective analysis of medical records of patients enrolled in National Institute of Cancer in Brazil, from 2000 to 2006, with colon adenocarcinoma, stage II and III. Patients were dichotomized into early and late treatment groups. Results: Of 327 patients studied, 172 underwent adjuvant chemotherapy, the majority of these (62%) were stage III. Time to onset ranged between 10 and 142 days (mean 61). Eighty patients (45%) started treatment with more than 60 days after surgery, the reasons for delay were: postoperative complications 8.7%, related to the system (delay in the histopathological, referral, or surgery at other ins...