Prostate cancer management at an Italian tertiary referral center: does multidisciplinary team meeting influence diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making process? A snapshot of the everyday clinical practice

Abstract

Background: Multidisciplinary team (MDT) management decision-making process appears as an interesting tool to answer most aspects of prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis and treatment, allowing a fairer choice of therapies. The aim of this study to prospectively investigate the impact on prostate cancer clinical management of the uro-oncology MDT meeting at an Italian tertiary referral center.

Methods: All cases discussed over an 18-months period at San Luigi Hospital uro-oncology MDT were prospectively evaluated for the impact of the MDT discussion on PCa clinical decision-making. Dilemma and management plan in the monodisciplinary visit before and/or after primary treatment were recorded. Subsequently, the MDT discussed the case and reached a consensus decision, which was also recorded. Changes in diagnostic assessment and patient management from pre- to post-MDT meeting were evaluated by a consultant urologist.

Results: Overall, 201 patients, of which 99, 81 and 21 with local, advanced and metastatic disease respectively, were selected for MDT evaluation. The most frequent reasons for MDT approach after either PCa diagnosis or primary treatment were metastatic disease or locally advanced disease/positive surgical margins/biochemical recurrence, respectively. Patients with local, advanced and metastatic disease had a significative change of diagnostic/therapeutic management in 23.2%, 46.9% and 33.4%, respectively (P<0.001). Multimodal treatment was recommended in 25.3%.

Conclusions: The uro-oncology MDT meeting alters management plans in at least one-quarter of patients reaching almost 50% of cases in locally advanced disease.