Outcomes after delayed surgery for locally advanced rectal cancer not responding to preoperative chemoradiation

Extending the interval between the end of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and surgery may enhance tumor response in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). However, data on the association of delaying surgery with long-term outcome in patients who had a minor or poor response to CRT are lacking. A retrospective cohort study in twelve Italian centers found that among patients with LARC and a poor response to neoadjuvant CRT, delay of surgery was associated with worse long-term oncological outcomes.