Multidisciplinary Team Meeting Significantly Enhances Disease-Free Survival in Stage II-III Rectal Cancer.

Background: Multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings have been increasingly recognized for enhancing cancer treatment outcomes; however, their specific impact on stage II-III rectal cancer remains to be fully elucidated.

Materials and methods: This retrospective cohort study investigated the influence of MDT meeting on disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with stage II-III rectal cancer. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to minimize selection bias. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare DFS and OS between groups.

Results: A total of 502 patients were included, with 176 whose cases were discussed in MDT meetings and 326 who did not undergo MDT discussions. After PSM, 173 patients were matched in each group. The MDT group exhibited a significantly improved DFS compared to the non-MDT group, both before PSM (HR = 0.618, P = .037) and after PSM (HR = 0.545, P = .012). Subgroup analysis indicated notable benefits of MDT discussions for patients with T3 to 4 tumors, low to mid tumor locations, and node-positive tumors. While there was a trend towards improved OS in the MDT group, this did not reach statistical significance. More MDT group patients received MRI staging and neoadjuvant therapy compared to non-MDT group.

Conclusions: Discussion in MDT meetings is associated with improved DFS in stage II-III rectal cancer, particularly among patients with locally advanced, low to mid rectal cancer. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating MDT discussions into routine clinical practice to optimize outcomes for rectal cancer patients.