UNASSIGNED: e16603 Background: The current standard for @entity5 after resection is adjuvant @entity1487 -based chemotherapy. In trials, AC is mandated within 8 weeks after surgery, but this is not always the case outside the clinical trial setting. A recent meta-analysis confirms that AC started more than 8 weeks after curative surgery results in significantly decreased overall survival. Our objective was to ascertain logistical and @entity1 factors associated with delayed delivery of AC (defined as >56 days from date of surgery) in referred @entity1 with resected @entity5 . METHODS: A population-based cohort of @entity1 diagnosed with stage 3 @entity694 between January 2008 to December 2009 referred to the BCCA and treated with at least one cycle of AC were identified. @entity1 characteristics, and event-specific time intervals between surgery, referral, medical oncology consultation (MOC) and AC were assessed. Differences in @entity1 characteristics and event intervals between @entity1 who received delayed and timely chemotherapy were assessed using the Chi-square and Wilcoxon Rank-sum tests. RESULTS: Median time from surgery to AC was 58 days with 54% of @entity1 receiving AC beyond 56 days. Temporal differences were identified in all event intervals between the between the timely and delayed groups (see table). Referral was most commonly initiated after hospital discharge The only @entity1 factors associated with delayed initiation included poorer ECOG status and being treated at the most urban centre within BCCA. Age, gender, comorbidity index, T stage and @entity5 location were not different between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: 54% of @entity1 with @entity5 had delayed AC initiation. Process related delays at each step of the referral process need to be addressed including timely referral, MOC triage and addressing chemotherapy waitlists. [Table: see text].

Factors associated with delayed time to adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) in XXXX : British Columbia Cancer Agency (BCCA) cohort experience.

@entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['stage III colon cancer', 'tumour'] @entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient', 'Patient'] @entity694 :: ('MESH:D003110', 'Disease') :: ['colon cancer'] @entity1487 :: ('MESH:D005472', 'Chemical') :: ['5FU']
@entity5 :: (MESH:D009369,Disease) :: ['stage III colon cancer']
