Multidisciplinary tumor boards: A prospective study of the impact on patient management in a community-based Brazilian cancer center.

Abstract

e19261 Background: MDTB have emerged as a valuable forum to address questions related to patient management. There is a general data lack of its overall benefit by attending physicians. However, few reports describe numerical impact on patient care of this tailor-made and shared model of medical decision. Methods: We describe, in this prospectively-collected study, data from a Cancer Center (HAOC) regarding multiple weekly, 1h-long discussions, as part of MDTB (GU, neuro-oncology GI, thorax, HN, breast, gyneco, melanoma/sarcoma and palliative care). Only newly-diagnosed or on-treatment challenging cancer cases were included. Attendees (onco, surgeons, RT, paths and radiologists) pooled their expertise to warrant quality and maximize resources. The primary endpoint was change in the medical planning. In our institution, further adherence to MDTB recommendations are left totally at physician discretion. Results: From Oct/17 to Feb/19, 413 cases were discussed (60% female), mean of 2.9 cases/MDTB, but GI (3.8), thorax (3.7) and breast (2.94) were above the median. Mean was 13.4 doctors/MDTB - more in breast (16.5), GI (15.8) and uro (15.1). Mean of oncologist/MDTB in general was 6.1, but 8.1 in GI, 7.8 thorax, breast 6.8 and 6.7 uro. Mean of surgeons/MDTB in general was 3.5, but 6.2 in breast, 5.8 uro and 5.5 GI. 100% of all had at least 1 oncologist and uro/GI/breast had at least 1 surgeon in 100% of them. In 50% (uro), 44% (neuro), 23.5% (breast), 6.4% (thorax) and 3.7% (GI) had at least 1 physician of 5 major areas. Oncologists engaged with more cases: 80.4% (thorax), 70.6% (uro), 59.6% (GI), 56.5% (HN). Prostate (38.2%), metastasis (neuro, 28.9%), colorectal (18.2%), lung adenoCA (43.5%), mouth (30.4%), ductal carcinoma (35.8%) were the more frequently discussed per system. In 25.7%, MDTB changed original medical planning. By site: GI (35,6%), thorax (24,7%), breast (22,6%), neuro (21,7%), uro (17,7%) and HN (17,4%). Oncologists were responsible more in thorax (73,9%) and less in breast (33%) and surgeons more in breast (50%) and less in GI (33%). Adherence to NCCN guidelines was total. Finally, but not measurable, a sizeable number of cases requires significant weekly time-effort. Conclusions: This study confirms MDTB leading role in cancer care, highlighting the importance of teamwork for more precise patient care. We point out that it led to substantial practice-changing in our institution, reinforcing its importance in a scenario which doctors are confronted with increasing complexities in patient management.