{"title":"The Impact of Early Versus Delayed Chemotherapy on Survival in Patients with Colorectal Cancer after Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.","authors":"Chaoyang Wang, KeJia Liu, YaGuang Han, ShuXin Xue","doi":"10.1007/s12029-026-01555-2","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study systematically evaluates the impact of the initiation time of postoperative chemotherapy on overall survival (OS) in patients with colorectal cancer, providing evidence to guide clinical decisions on chemotherapy timing.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Following PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched up to February 2025. Cohort studies comparing early versus delayed postoperative chemotherapy were included. Two researchers independently performed literature screening, data extraction, and quality assessment. Review Manager 5.3 was used, with hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) as effect measures. Random- or fixed-effects models were applied based on heterogeneity, and subgroup and sensitivity analyses were conducted.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Eleven studies involving 72,873 patients were included. Pooled results showed that delayed chemotherapy significantly increased the risk of death (HR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.20-1.45, P < 0.00001). Heterogeneity was high (I² = 88%), and sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the findings. Subgroup analysis, using an 8-week cutoff, revealed that patients who initiated chemotherapy within ≤ 8 weeks had significantly better survival than those who started > 8 weeks (HR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.14-1.91, P = 0.003).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Delayed postoperative chemotherapy markedly increases mortality risk. Initiating adjuvant chemotherapy within 8 weeks after surgery is recommended to achieve optimal survival benefits.</p>","PeriodicalId":15895,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Gastrointestinal Cancer","volume":"57 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2000,"publicationDate":"2026-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Gastrointestinal Cancer","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12029-026-01555-2","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"ONCOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective: This study systematically evaluates the impact of the initiation time of postoperative chemotherapy on overall survival (OS) in patients with colorectal cancer, providing evidence to guide clinical decisions on chemotherapy timing.
Methods: Following PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched up to February 2025. Cohort studies comparing early versus delayed postoperative chemotherapy were included. Two researchers independently performed literature screening, data extraction, and quality assessment. Review Manager 5.3 was used, with hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) as effect measures. Random- or fixed-effects models were applied based on heterogeneity, and subgroup and sensitivity analyses were conducted.
Results: Eleven studies involving 72,873 patients were included. Pooled results showed that delayed chemotherapy significantly increased the risk of death (HR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.20-1.45, P < 0.00001). Heterogeneity was high (I² = 88%), and sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the findings. Subgroup analysis, using an 8-week cutoff, revealed that patients who initiated chemotherapy within ≤ 8 weeks had significantly better survival than those who started > 8 weeks (HR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.14-1.91, P = 0.003).
Conclusion: Delayed postoperative chemotherapy markedly increases mortality risk. Initiating adjuvant chemotherapy within 8 weeks after surgery is recommended to achieve optimal survival benefits.
期刊介绍：
The Journal of Gastrointestinal Cancer is a multidisciplinary medium for the publication of novel research pertaining to cancers arising from the gastrointestinal tract.The journal is dedicated to the most rapid publication possible.The journal publishes papers in all relevant fields, emphasizing those studies that are helpful in understanding and treating cancers affecting the esophagus, stomach, liver, gallbladder and biliary tree, pancreas, small bowel, large bowel, rectum, and anus. In addition, the Journal of Gastrointestinal Cancer publishes basic and translational scientific information from studies providing insight into the etiology and progression of cancers affecting these organs. New insights are provided from diverse areas of research such as studies exploring pre-neoplastic states, risk factors, epidemiology, genetics, preclinical therapeutics, surgery, radiation therapy, novel medical therapeutics, clinical trials, and outcome studies.In addition to reports of original clinical and experimental studies, the journal also publishes: case reports, state-of-the-art reviews on topics of immediate interest or importance; invited articles analyzing particular areas of pancreatic research and knowledge; perspectives in which critical evaluation and conflicting opinions about current topics may be expressed; meeting highlights that summarize important points presented at recent meetings; abstracts of symposia and conferences; book reviews; hypotheses; Letters to the Editors; and other items of special interest, including:Complex Cases in GI Oncology: This is a new initiative to provide a forum to review and discuss the history and management of complex and involved gastrointestinal oncology cases. The format will be similar to a teaching case conference where a case vignette is presented and is followed by a series of questions and discussion points. A brief reference list supporting the points made in discussion would be expected.
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