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Meta-Analysis
. 2015 Oct 13:15:686.
doi: 10.1186/s12885-015-1683-1.

Do Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) processes influence survival in patients with colorectal cancer? A population-based experience

Alastair Munro  1 , Mhari Brown  2 , Paddy Niblock  3 , Robert Steele  4 , Frank Carey  5
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Do Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) processes influence survival in patients with colorectal cancer? A population-based experience

Alastair Munro et al. BMC Cancer. .

Abstract

Background: MDT (multidisciplinary team) meetings are considered an essential component of care for patients with cancer. However there is remarkably little direct evidence that such meetings improve outcomes. We assessed whether or not MDT (multidisciplinary team) processes influenced survival in a cohort of patients with colorectal cancer.

Methods: Observational study of a population-based cohort of 586 consecutive patients with colorectal cancer diagnosed in Tayside (Scotland) during 2006 and 2007.

Results: Recommendations from MDT meetings were implemented in 411/586 (70.1 %) of patients, the MDT+ group. The remaining175/586 (29.9 %) were either never discussed at an MDT, or recommendations were not implemented, MDT- group. The 5-year cause-specific survival (CSS) rates were 63.1 % (MDT+) and 48.2 % (MDT-), p < 0.0001. In analysis confined to patients who survived >6 weeks after diagnosis, the rates were 63.2 % (MDT+) and 57.7 % (MDT-), p = 0.064. The adjusted hazard rate (HR) for death from colorectal cancer was 0.73 (0.53 to 1.00, p = 0.047) in the MDT+ group compared to the MDT- group, in patients surviving >6 weeks the adjusted HR was 1.00 (0.70 to 1.42, p = 0.987). Any benefit from the MDT process was largely confined to patients with advanced disease: adjusted HR (early) 1.32 (0.69 to 2.49, p = 0.401); adjusted HR(advanced) 0.65 (0.45 to 0.96, p = 0.031).

Conclusions: Adequate MDT processes are associated with improved survival for patients with colorectal cancer. However, some of this effect may be more apparent than real - simply reflecting selection bias. The MDT process predominantly benefits the 40 % of patients who present with advanced disease and conveys little demonstrable advantage to patients with early tumours. These results call into question the current belief that all new patients with colorectal cancer should be discussed at an MDT meeting.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow chart illustrating the population of patients and outcomes
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Kaplan-Meier survival curves for cause-specific survival according to MDT group
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Kaplan-Meier cause-specific survival curves according to extent of disease (for definition see text) and MDT group
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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