Brief Article
Copyright ©2011 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 21, 2011; 17(15): 2013-2018
Published online Apr 21, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i15.2013
Effect of multidisciplinary team treatment on outcomes of patients with gastrointestinal malignancy
Chang-Zheng Du, Jie Li, Yong Cai, Ying-Shi Sun, Wei-Cheng Xue, Jin Gu
Chang-Zheng Du, Jin Gu, Department of Colorectal Surgery, Peking University School of Oncology, Fucheng Road 52, Haidian District, Beijing 100142, China
Jie Li, Department of Medical Oncology, Peking University School of Oncology, Fucheng Road 52, Haidian District, Beijing 100142, China
Yong Cai, Department of Radiotherapy, Peking University School of Oncology, Fucheng Road 52, Haidian District, Beijing 100142, China
Ying-Shi Sun, Department of Radiology, Peking University School of Oncology, Fu Cheng Road 52, Haidian District, Beijing 100142, China
Wei-Cheng Xue, Department of Pathology, Peking University School of Oncology, Fucheng Road 52, Haidian District, Beijing 100142, China
Author contributions: Du CZ collected the materials and wrote the paper; Li J, Cai Y, Sun YS and Xue WC were the key members of multidisciplinary team; Gu J designed the research and made the critical revisions of the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Jin Gu, MD, FACS, Department of Colorectal Surgery, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Peking University School of Oncology, Beijing Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing 100142, China. zlguj@yahoo.com.cn
Telephone: +86-10-88141032 Fax: +86-10-88141032
Received: November 22, 2010
Revised: January 4, 2011
Accepted: January 11, 2011
Published online: April 21, 2011
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the effect of multidisciplinary team (MDT) treatment modality on outcomes of patients with gastrointestinal malignancy in China.

METHODS: Data about patients with gastric and colorectal cancer treated in our center during the past 10 years were collected and divided into two parts. Part 1 consisted of the data collected from 516 consecutive complicated cases discussed at MDT meetings in Peking University School of Oncology (PKUSO) from December 2005 to July 2009. Part 2 consisted of the data collected from 263 consecutive cases of resectable locally advanced rectal cancer from January 2001 to January 2005. These 263 patients were divided into neoadjuvant therapy (NT) group and control group. Patients in NT group received MDT treatment, namely neoadjuvant therapy + surgery + postoperative adjuvant therapy. Patients in control group underwent direct surgery + postoperative adjuvant therapy. The outcomes in two groups were compared.

RESULTS: The treatment strategy was altered after discussed at MDT meeting in 76.81% of gastric cancer patients and in 58.33% of colorectal cancer patients before operation. The sphincter-preservation and local control of tumor were better in NT group than in control group. The 5-year overall survival rate was also higher in NT group than in control group (77.23% vs 69.75%, P = 0.049).

CONCLUSION: MDT treatment modality can significantly improve the outcomes of patients with gastrointestinal malignancy in China.

Keywords: Multidisciplinary team; Rectal cancer; Neoadjuvant radiotherapy; Prognosis