Adjuvant chemotherapy following the curative resection could improve the survival outcome of advanced gastric cancer (GC) patients. However, it is unclear whether delayed initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy had a negative impact on survival outcome in GC patients. The purpose of this study was to review current published literature about the impact of delaying adjuvant chemotherapy on survival outcome and summarize risk factors for delaying adjuvant chemotherapy. Delayed initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy was quite frequent in GC patients who underwent gastrectomy due to postoperative complications, poor nutritional status, comorbid diseases and socioeconomic status. Therefore, it is important for these patients to have a sufficient and smooth transition from surgery to initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy. Based on current available evidence, there is no specific timing interval for the initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy in GC patients. Earlier initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy (<4 weeks) may not be mandatory for GC patients who underwent curative resection. However, the patients should be recommended to receive adjuvant chemotherapy within 6-8 weeks if their performance status and nutritional status were deemed to be appropriate. Minimizing postoperative complications and providing requisite nutritional advice may be helpful for timely initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy.

根治性切除术后的辅助化疗可以改善晚期胃癌（GC）患者的生存结果。然而，尚不清楚延迟开始辅助化疗是否对 GC 患者的生存结果产生负面影响。本研究的目的是回顾目前发表的关于延迟辅助化疗对生存结果影响的文献，并总结延迟辅助化疗的危险因素。由于术后并发症、营养不良、合并疾病和社会经济状况，在接受胃切除术的 GC 患者中，延迟启动辅助化疗的情况非常常见。因此，对于这些患者来说，从手术到开始辅助化疗有一个充分而平稳的过渡是很重要的。根据现有的证据，GC 患者开始辅助化疗没有特定的时间间隔。对于接受根治性切除的 GC 患者，早期开始辅助化疗（<4 周）可能不是强制性的。但是，如果认为患者的体能状况和营养状况合适，应建议患者在 6-8 周内接受辅助化疗。尽量减少术后并发症并提供必要的营养建议可能有助于及时启动辅助化疗。如果认为患者的体能状况和营养状况合适，应建议患者在 6-8 周内接受辅助化疗。尽量减少术后并发症并提供必要的营养建议可能有助于及时启动辅助化疗。如果认为患者的体能状况和营养状况合适，应建议患者在 6-8 周内接受辅助化疗。尽量减少术后并发症并提供必要的营养建议可能有助于及时启动辅助化疗。