Optimal time interval between neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and surgery for rectal cancer

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) has been proven to increase local control in rectal cancer, but the optimal interval between CRT and surgery is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to analyse the influence of variations in clinical practice regarding timing of surgery on pathological response at a population level.All evaluable patients who underwent preoperative CRT for rectal cancer between 2009 and 2011 were selected from the...