Optimizing Cancer Treatment Through Multidisciplinary Tumor Board Review

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• Why a Tumor Board is Essential for Cancer Care
• The Need for Specialized Cancer Expertise
• The Tumor Board Decision-Making Process
• Current Implementation and Challenges of MD Ts
• The Future of Remote Expert Consultation
• Full Transcript

Why a Tumor Board is Essential for Cancer Care

A Multidisciplinary Team, or Tumor Board, is a cornerstone of modern oncology. Dr. Hans-Joachim Schmoll, MD, states that every cancer patient must be evaluated by such a team. This is because cancer treatment is highly specific to the tumor type and changes rapidly. The collective knowledge of a Tumor Board ensures all treatment possibilities and risks are considered. This collaborative approach is the best method to adapt therapy to a patient's specific health status and situation.

The Need for Specialized Cancer Expertise

Expertise in a specific tumor type is now a requirement for optimal cancer care. Dr. Hans-Joachim Schmoll, MD, explains that it is impossible for one physician to be an expert in all cancers. In an optimal setting, cancer experts for specific tumors work together in dedicated cancer centers. This concentration of specialized knowledge is crucial. It leads to more accurate diagnoses and more effective, personalized treatment plans for patients.

The Tumor Board Decision-Making Process

The Tumor Board meeting is designed to discuss a patient from every possible angle. Dr. Hans-Joachim Schmoll, MD, emphasizes that this multidisciplinary method is vital for selecting the optimal treatment at any given time. Furthermore, this process is not a one-time event. The MD T approach must be repeated at every critical decision step in a patient's cancer therapy journey. For instance, if a tumor grows or changes, a new Tumor Board review is necessary to decide on the next course of action.

Current Implementation and Challenges of MD Ts

While the Tumor Board model is implemented in many parts of Germany and France, challenges remain. Dr. Hans-Joachim Schmoll, MD, points out a significant issue: real experts are not always available in every hospital. This has spurred interest in creating centralized multidisciplinary cancer centers. These centers would house experts for all cancer types. This system would ensure optimal use of expertise and remotely established treatment plans, ultimately improving patient quality of life and reducing side effects.

The Future of Remote Expert Consultation

Technology is revolutionizing access to specialized cancer care. Dr. Schmoll confirms that a patient does not always need to visit experts in person. A data presentation of medical records, video, and imaging can be sufficient for a Tumor Board to make a recommendation. Dr. Anton Titov, MD, discusses systems that facilitate this remote review. This approach allows for the most efficient use of an expert's time and knowledge. It makes top-level consultation accessible to patients regardless of their geographic location.

Full Transcript

Every cancer patient must be evaluated by a multidisciplinary team, also called a tumor board. An eminent German oncologist explains.

In the optimal situation, cancer experts on specific tumor types exist and sit together in specific cancer centers. This happens in some developed countries. Today, expertise in a specific tumor type is required because cancer treatment is so specific for a specific tumor type.

Dr. Hans-Joachim Schmoll, MD: Cancer treatment also very rapidly improves. You cannot be an expert in all tumor types, like we did with my oncology book many years ago.

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: In the optimal situation, the tumor board meets to discuss a given patient from all facets. Tumor board is extremely important because every specialist has his own knowledge about possibilities and risks of a specific treatment.

Tumor Board will be the best method to adapt the treatment to the specific patient situation, health status, etc.

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: Tumor Board of experts is necessary.

Dr. Hans-Joachim Schmoll, MD: Multidisciplinary method is very important to select the optimal treatment at the given time. MD T method must be done at every decision step for cancer therapy. Sometimes the tumor grows, then we have to make a new decision how to treat.

Multidisciplinary Team is the optimal method for cancer treatment decisions. Multidisciplinary Team method and Tumor Board is now done in many parts of Germany and in France. But in Germany, for example, there are many Tumor Board meetings when real experts are not available.

Because you cannot have an expert for any tumor type in every hospital, there is interest in making a multidisciplinary cancer center where all experts from all cancer types are there.

Dr. Hans-Joachim Schmoll, MD: This would also be a good use and optimal use of the remotely established treatment plans. This can improve life quality for the patient and avoid side effects. We have to find a better system for management of patients with cancer, including colon cancer.

Maybe not for all cancers, but at least for patients with colon cancer. Before a colon cancer patient undergoes surgery, he should go to an expert for the best treatment strategy. A real top expert can explain what is the best for the colon cancer patient and where he could go for treatment.

Thank you. All this is very important for the future of cancer treatment. But this method also allows the use of the communication technologies and internet to really make the most efficient use of the expert's time and expertise.

Dr. Hans-Joachim Schmoll, MD: Correct. Patient doesn't need to visit experts personally. You can give data presentation of information on video and on screen. It is enough to review patient's situation. The important is to find and consult the expert.

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: There are systems like this that review medical records. But the video system you are doing is very good. Yes.

Tumor Board Review by leading colorectal cancer specialists is the best way to select personalized colon cancer treatment. Best colon cancer and rectal cancer prognosis is achieved by specialist tumor board review of each patient.

Why is it important to review every cancer patient? How personalized strategy of treatment can help cure more patients with cancer?

Colorectal Cancer Tumor Board by leading European and United States oncologists and cancer surgeons can personalize therapy for advanced colon cancer patient. Multidisciplinary approach is very important to select the optimal treatment at the given time.

MD T approach must be done at every decision step for cancer therapy. Patient doesn’t need to visit doctors personally. Colon cancer data presentation by video and imaging is sufficient for Tumor Board discussion and recommendation of the best cancer treatment plan.

Leading colorectal cancer expert discusses colorectal cancer Tumor Board and Multidisciplinary team approach to treatment.