National Bowel Cancer Audit Short Report – Adjuvant Chemotherapy

The benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) for stage III colon cancer have been well established for decades. This short report presents an evaluation of current practice and variation in ACT use for stage III colon cancer in England. For the period 01 April 2014 to 31 March 2017, 61% of patients were identified as being given ACT while undergoing major resection for pathological stage III colon cancer.

The report found that patients were more likely to have ACT if they were younger, fitter, less deprived and had more advanced disease.

Individual provider comparative monitoring and reporting would help to monitor and address hospital-trust variation in ACT use. The report suggests that all colorectal multidisciplinary teams involving surgeons and oncologists review their pathways for patients with stage III colon cancer and assess their criteria for offering adjuvant chemotherapy with a view to increasing the uptake of this important treatment.

Click below to download the report.