Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics 2025, Vol.13 http://medscipublisher.com/index.php/cge © 2025 MedSci Publisher, registered at the publishing platform that is operated by Sophia Publishing Group, founded in British Columbia of Canada. All Rights Reserved.
Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics 2025, Vol.13 http://medscipublisher.com/index.php/cge © 2025 MedSci Publisher, registered at the publishing platform that is operated by Sophia Publishing Group, founded in British Columbia of Canada. All Rights Reserved. MedSci Publisher is an international Open Access publisher specializing in cancer genetics, cancer epigenetics, clinical pharmacology, cancer biology at the publishing platform that is operated by Sophia Publishing Group (SPG), founded in British Columbia of Canada. Publisher MedSci Publisher Edited by Editorial Team of Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics Email: edit@cge.medscipublisher.com Website: http://medscipublisher.com/index.php/cge Address: 11388 Stevenston Hwy, PO Box 96016, Richmond, V7A 5J5, British Columbia Canada Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics (ISSN 2369-2995) is an open access, peer reviewed journal published online by MedSci Publisher. The journal is aimed to publish all works in the areas that with quality and originality, with a scope that spans the areas of cancer genetics and cancer epigenetics. It is archived in LAC (Library and Archives Canada) and deposited in CrossRef. The journal has been indexed by ProQuest as well, expected to be indexed by PubMed and other datebases in near future. All the articles published in Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics are Open Access, and are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. MedSci Publisher uses CrossCheck service to identify academic plagiarism through the world’s leading plagiarism prevention tool, iParadigms, and to protect the original authors’ copyrights.
Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics (online), 2025, Vol. 13, No. 6 ISSN 2369-2995 http://medscipublisher.com/index.php/cge © 2025 MedSci Publisher, registered at the publishing platform that is operated by Sophia Publishing Group, founded in British Columbia of Canada. All Rights Reserved. Latest Content The Impact of Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Model on the Prognosis of Patients with Malignant Tumors Yong Cheng Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics, 2025, Vol. 13, No. 6, 254-264 Evaluating the Effectiveness and Practical Use of Non-Drug Therapies for Cancer Pain Management Xiaopen Liu, Jie Zhang Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics, 2025, Vol. 13, No. 6, 265-274 Nursing Intervention Practice and Rehabilitation Path Tracking for Edema of the Affected Upper Limb in Patients After Breast Cancer Surgery Wei Zhang Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics, 2025, Vol. 13, No. 6, 275-286 Postoperative Recurrence Monitoring and ctDNA-Guided Intervention in Colorectal Cancer Patients Liqin Guo, Jiayi Wu Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics, 2025, Vol. 13, No. 6, 287-299 Advances in the Efficacy and Safety of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Solid Tumors Hui Xu Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics, 2025, Vol. 13, No. 6, 300-309
Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics, 2025, Vol.13, No.6, 254-264 http://medscipublisher.com/index.php/cge 254 Systematic Review Open Access The Impact of Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Model on the Prognosis of Patients with Malignant Tumors Yong Cheng Physicov Med. Tech. Ltd., Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China Corresponding email: 2741098603@qq.com Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics, 2025, Vol.13, No.6 doi: 10.5376/cge.2025.13.0026 Received: 20 Aug., 2025 Accepted: 22 Sep., 2025 Published: 10 Nov., 2025 Copyright © 2025 Cheng, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Cheng Y., 2025, The impact of multidisciplinary team (MDT) model on the prognosis of patients with malignant tumors, Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics, 13(6): 254-264 (doi: 10.5376/cge.2025.13.0026) Abstract This study discusses the role of the MDT model in improving patients' survival rate, quality of life, degree of treatment cooperation and satisfaction. A large number of studies on diseases such as breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer and gastric cancer have found that the application of this model can significantly prolong the overall survival and progression-free survival of patients, help doctors more standardize the implementation of clinical diagnosis and treatment guidelines, and also enable patients to enter the treatment stage earlier. While enhancing the therapeutic effect, MDT can also alleviate patients' psychological pressure and promote more patient-centered holistic care. This article also summarizes some key links that affect the effectiveness of MDT, such as collaboration among teams, support from hospital management, and timely information sharing, and points out that there are still problems such as insufficient resources and inconsistent evaluation standards at present. In the future, the development of the MDT model will place greater emphasis on digital construction, the application of artificial intelligence, and the active participation of patients, thereby further enhancing the team's work efficiency. Nowadays, the MDT model has become an important foundation for achieving precise and high-quality cancer treatment, bringing tangible benefits to both patients and the medical system. Keywords Multidisciplinary team (MDT); Malignant tumors; Patient prognosis; Survival outcomes; Quality of life 1 Introduction Cancer is a prominent public health issue worldwide. Data from 2022 indicates that there are approximately 20 million new cancer cases and about 9.7 million deaths from cancer worldwide each year. The incidence and mortality rates vary greatly among different countries and regions. Among them, lung cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer and stomach cancer are the most common. Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths to this day, with approximately 1.8 million people dying from it each year (Cheng et al., 2016; Bray et al., 2018; Sung et al., 2021). Due to the influence of population aging and multiple factors such as smoking, obesity and infection, it is estimated that by 2050, the number of new cancer cases worldwide will increase to approximately 35 million each year. Especially in developing countries, the burden of cancer may rise at a faster rate, which further highlights the importance of taking effective preventive and therapeutic measures as early as possible (Zhang et al., 2023; Bray et al., 2024). In the past, cancer treatment was often handled by a single department or doctor, and this approach had many problems. The specific manifestations are that the treatment process is not continuous, the time for seeing a doctor and receiving treatment is prolonged, and the treatment standards are not uniform, resulting in poor recovery effects for patients. The treatment approach of a single discipline is difficult to deal with the complex situation of cancer-cancer often requires the simultaneous use of multiple treatment methods, and its multi-faceted impact on the patient's physical, psychological and social life also needs to be considered (Berardi et al., 2020; Popat et al., 2020). The traditional treatment mode is also prone to problems such as repetitive treatment, contradictory regimens, poor coordination among various links, and incomplete assistance to patients, which will ultimately affect the survival time and quality of life of patients (Taberna et al., 2020; Thenuwara et al., 2023; Liu et al., 2024).
Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics, 2025, Vol.13, No.6, 254-264 http://medscipublisher.com/index.php/cge 255 This study will discuss the complex issues existing in cancer treatment management and focus on analyzing how the MDT model brings together different professionals such as doctors, nurses, and other related medical service providers to jointly formulate and implement individualized treatment plans for patients. Practice has proved that the MDT model helps medical staff better follow the diagnosis and treatment guidelines, optimize the selection of treatment strategies, shorten the time from diagnosis to the start of treatment, and thereby improve the overall treatment effect, including prolonging the patient's survival period and improving the quality of life. The wide application of the MDT model reflects that cancer treatment is gradually moving towards a patient-centered development direction that emphasizes evidence support and multidisciplinary collaboration, and can more comprehensively respond to the needs of cancer patients in all aspects. 2 The Concept and Development of the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Model 2.1 Definition and composition of MDT In tumor treatment, a multidisciplinary team (MDT) is a team composed of medical staff from different specialties, with the aim of providing comprehensive and evidence-based diagnosis and treatment services for cancer patients. The core role of MDT is to jointly formulate individualized treatment plans for patients and integrate the opinions of various disciplines as much as possible. A team typically consists of surgeons, internists, radiologists, pathologists, specialist nurses and coordinators. Depending on the type of tumor and the specific condition of the patient, nutritionists, psychologists, social workers, and palliative care physicians may also be involved to help address issues related to quality of life and supportive care (Prades et al., 2015; Winters et al., 2021). Over time, the composition of MDT members has become more diverse than in the past. The early team was mainly composed of several core clinical specialties. Later, with the increasing emphasis on the concept of "holistic care", more supportive and related health professionals were incorporated into the team. This expansion helps to better address the adverse reactions brought about by treatment, enhance patients' cooperation, and improve the overall level of care. Some medical institutions have also introduced translational researchers into MDT to make the connection between scientific research and clinical practice closer, thereby further improving the treatment outcomes of patients (Licitra et al., 2016; Taberna et al., 2020). 2.2 Implementation process of the MDT model The operation of the MDT model usually relies on holding regular discussion meetings - often referred to as tumor case meetings - to report and discuss the patient's condition. Such meetings are mostly held once a week or every two weeks, and it is required that relatively complete clinical information, such as imaging results, pathological reports and medical history data, be prepared before the meeting. Treatment decisions are collectively formed by the team. Each specialist doctor provides their own professional judgment and tries their best to reach an agreement on diagnosis, staging and treatment plans. To ensure the efficient operation of the MDT, it is necessary to have a clearly responsible leader, good communication methods and a clear division of labor arrangement to guarantee that each member has the opportunity to fully express their opinions (Soukup et al., 2018; Winters et al., 2021). Whether the MDT can be carried out smoothly is also closely related to the specific organization method of the meeting. This includes having well-prepared patient information in advance, arranging the discussion sequence reasonably, and using appropriate digital tools to enhance efficiency. In recent years, new methods such as online MDT meetings and shared data platforms have further strengthened team collaboration (Lucarini et al., 2022). Meanwhile, continuous evaluation of team performance, patient diagnosis and treatment outcomes, and satisfaction also helps to continuously identify problems and improve the MDT model (Lin et al., 2025). 2.3 The development history and current situation of MDT in various countries The MDT model first emerged in the UK over 20 years ago, with the aim of narrowing the quality gap in cancer care and coordinating timely treatment arrangements. Subsequently, this model was gradually adopted by many countries and became the recognized standard for diagnosis and treatment. Guidelines and professional institutions in many countries recommend or require the implementation of MDT. In the UK, MDT meetings are stipulated by law and subject to regular external reviews. In the United States and Europe, MDT has become a key part of cancer program accreditation and quality assessment (Licitra et al., 2016; Fehervari et al., 2021).
Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics, 2025, Vol.13, No.6, 254-264 http://medscipublisher.com/index.php/cge 256 The arrangement and frequency of MDT meetings vary from country to country. In the UK and Europe, MDTS are usually held at least once every two weeks, mostly chaired by surgeons, with core specialty members attending regularly. Since 2013, the United States has made holding an MDT meeting once a month a hard requirement in the assessment of cancer programs. Although the organizational forms and details vary from place to place, the core objective is the same: to provide patients with coordinated and patient-centered diagnosis and treatment services. The main problems currently faced include: how to implement unified work standards, ensure service quality, deal with increasingly complex cases, and maintain team operations with limited resources. Even so, the MDT model continues to develop globally and is gradually moving towards digital integration and greater patient participation (Soukup et al., 2018; Winters et al., 2021). 3 The Application and Therapeutic Effect of MDT in Different Types of Malignant Tumors 3.1 Application in breast cancer and lung cancer The multidisciplinary team (MDT) model is now widely used in the treatment of breast cancer and has significantly improved the treatment outcomes for breast cancer patients. MDT can help coordinate various arrangements for diagnosis and treatment, enabling patients to receive comprehensive examinations and judgments from doctors in multiple fields such as surgery, oncology, radiology, pathology, and specialized nursing. Studies show that when patients join MDT diagnosis and treatment, doctors often make more accurate diagnoses of breast cancer and can better follow the standard treatment plan, which is helpful for improving the survival rate of patients. For instance, formulating treatment plans through MDT can make the treatment plan more reasonable, reduce unnecessary surgeries, and thereby improve both the treatment effect and recovery situation (Prades et al., 2015; Ko et al., 2021; Scott, 2021). Lung cancer is a rather complex disease that often requires early and systematic treatment. Therefore, the diagnosis and treatment approach of MDT is particularly important. Many studies and clinical data comparisons have found that lung cancer patients who receive MDT management have a longer overall survival time, a shorter period from diagnosis to the start of treatment, and a higher proportion of completing tumor staging-related examinations. The MDT model can also enable more patients to receive appropriate treatment arrangements and promote doctors to act better in accordance with clinical treatment guidelines, which is crucial for improving the treatment outcomes of lung cancer types such as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (Table 1) (Bilfinger et al., 2018; Ko et al., 2021; Scott, 2021; De Castro et al., 2023). Table 1 Summary of findings: association between MDT and outcomes in patients with lung cancer (adopted from De Castro et al., 2023) Outcomes Number of Studies; Number of Patients Compiled Studies Heterogeneity (I2), % Effect size: HR, MD, or RR (95% CI) Quality of Evidence (GRADE) Overall survival 3; 38, 037 27, 31, 39 78 HR 0.60 (0.49-0.75) Very low a Time from diagnosis to first treatment 6; 15, 235 16, 28, 33, 37, 38, 42 63 MD 12.41 (11.16-13.65) Very low a, b Complete staging 4; 14 ,925 16, 30, 33, 37 89 RR 1.36 (1.17-1.57) Very low a, b Table caption: GRADE approach to assess quality of evidence; CI: Confidence interval; HR: Hazard ratio; GRADE: Grading of recommendations assessment, development and evaluation; MD: Mean difference; MDT: Multidisciplinary team; RR: Risk ratio; a: Inconsistency: downgraded one level due to inconsistency; b: Risk of bias: downgraded one level due to within-study risk of bias classified as high in most studies 3.2 Comprehensive treatment of digestive system tumors Colorectal cancer, gastric cancer and other digestive system tumors have also achieved good results under the MDT model treatment. There are many types of this kind of cancer, and it is difficult to determine the stage of the disease. Therefore, the comprehensive assessment and personalized treatment plan brought by MDT are particularly important. Multiple studies and medical record data show that MDT can improve the survival rate of such patients, especially for advanced colorectal cancer and gastric cancer. For instance, if patients with advanced gastric cancer participate in MDT diagnosis and treatment, their overall survival rate within three years will increase and the risk of death will also decrease. The survival rate of colorectal cancer patients treated with MDT, especially those at stage III and IV, was also significantly improved (Ma et al., 2024; Mangone et al., 2024).
Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics, 2025, Vol.13, No.6, 254-264 http://medscipublisher.com/index.php/cge 257 MDT not only helps to prolong patients' lives, but also enhances the overall management level of digestive system tumors by improving the accuracy of diagnosis, accelerating the start time of treatment, and ensuring that patients receive more comprehensive and targeted treatment. After MDT discussions, many cases have their original treatment plans readjusted (Prades et al., 2015; Peng et al., 2021). This also indicates that collective discussions and joint decision-making are of great value when dealing with complex conditions. The MDT model can also make subsequent follow-up and care more continuous and better connected, which plays an important role in meeting the long-term treatment and care needs of patients with digestive system tumors (Xiang et al., 2022). 3.3 Exploration of applications in other malignant tumors The MDT model has also been applied in the treatment of other malignant tumors such as head and neck cancer, prostate cancer, liver cancer, and kidney cancer. In the treatment of head and neck cancers, the role of MDT is particularly prominent-the body structure in this area is special and requires close cooperation among multiple departments such as surgery, oncology, and nursing (Prades et al., 2015). MDT can help doctors comprehensively understand the condition, accurately determine the stage of cancer, optimize the treatment plan, and jointly improve the survival rate and quality of life of patients (Felice et al., 2018; Taberna et al., 2020). For specific malignant tumors such as metastatic renal cell carcinoma and liver cancer, the collective discussion of MDT can help prolong the overall survival and progression-free survival of patients. Patients who receive MDT treatment are more likely to have multiple rounds of treatment opportunities and personalized treatment plans, and the treatment effect is also better (Shore et al., 2022). However, in some types of cancer, the research conclusions on the effect of MDT are not uniform. More high-quality studies are needed to clarify the specific role of MDT in the survival and quality of life of patients with various types of cancer (Zeng et al., 2023; Peng et al., 2025). 4 Multi-Dimensional Effects of MDT on Patient Prognosis 4.1 Improvement in survival outcomes The application of the multidisciplinary team (MDT) model in cancer treatment has been proven to be beneficial for improving the survival rate of patients with different types of cancer. Multiple studies and a large amount of case data show that patients who receive MDT management have a longer overall survival time compared with those who only receive conventional treatment. For instance, in patients with non-small cell lung cancer, the participation of MDT in treatment can reduce the risk of death by approximately 40% (hazard ratio 0.60), and there are similar improving trends in survival outcomes for patients with colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, head and neck cancer, and esophageal cancer (Bilfinger et al., 2018; De Castro et al., 2023). Generally speaking, the more standardized the MDT team is, the more abundant the discussion meetings are, and the more actively experts participate, the more ideal the survival outcome of patients will be. Take rectal cancer as an example. The three-year survival rate of patients managed by a high-level MDT team can reach 90.5%, while that of patients managed by a general MDT team is approximately 78.1% (Figure 1) (Shang et al., 2021; Lindblad et al., 2024; Ma et al., 2024). The improvement in survival rates is mainly due to more accurate diagnosis, more timely treatment initiation, and doctors' better adherence to standard treatment guidelines (Prades et al., 2015; Xiang et al., 2022). The MDT model will prompt doctors to conduct a comprehensive assessment of patients, formulate personalized treatment plans, ensure that patients receive the most suitable treatment for themselves, and reduce situations of inadequate or over-treatment. For advanced cancers with complex conditions that require the combined treatment of multiple methods, the role of MDT in prolonging the survival time of patients is particularly prominent (Zeng et al., 2023; Mangone et al., 2024). 4.2 Improve the quality of life and mental health MDT not only helps prolong the survival time of cancer patients, but also plays a significant role in improving their quality of life and psychological state. Research has found that MDT-based nursing can significantly enhance patients' physical comfort, reduce chemotherapy-related complications, and is more conducive to alleviating patients' anxiety and depression. For example, compared with breast cancer patients receiving conventional treatment, patients receiving MDT management had higher quality of life scores, lower incidences of severe
Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics, 2025, Vol.13, No.6, 254-264 http://medscipublisher.com/index.php/cge 258 anxiety and depression, and reduced discomfort during surgery (Taberna et al., 2020; Xie et al., 2024). For patients with advanced cancer, the combination of MDT and palliative care can significantly reduce negative emotions and increase the level of social support they feel, thereby further improving the overall quality of life (Liu et al., 2023; Wang, 2025). Figure 1 Disease-free survival and overall survival in high or general multidisciplinary team quality (Adopted from Ma et al., 2024) The comprehensive care approach of MDT not only focuses on the physical pain of patients, but also attaches importance to their emotional and social needs (Taberna et al., 2020; Liu et al., 2023). By incorporating supportive medical staff such as psychological experts, social workers, and palliative care experts, MDT can provide comprehensive assistance throughout the entire process of patients fighting cancer. This multi-faceted care model can make patients more motivated, promote doctors and patients to jointly determine the treatment plan, and help patients better cope with the stress during the cancer treatment process (Biseglia et al., 2024; Xie et al., 2024). 4.3 Improve treatment compliance and patient satisfaction The degree of patient participation in multidisciplinary team (MDT) treatment is also closely related to whether they are willing to cooperate with the treatment and whether they are satisfied with it. Patients under MDT management are more likely to complete all treatments on time and as planned, seek medical attention promptly, and receive relatively adequate support throughout the process (Prades et al., 2015). A survey of colorectal cancer patients found that 93.5% of them were satisfied with MDT care, and 89.5% believed that they had received sufficient attention during treatment. Meanwhile, MDT can also reduce the time patients wait for examination and start treatment, thereby further improving patient satisfaction (Lucarini et al., 2022; Mangone et al., 2024). The MDT cooperation model enables smoother communication between doctors and patients, more unified nursing arrangements, and allows doctors and patients to make treatment decisions together, which enhances patients' trust and sense of participation (Taberna et al., 2020). MDT will involve patients and their families in the diagnosis and treatment process, helping them understand their own conditions and thus persist in completing relatively complex treatments. This patient-centered model can not only bring better therapeutic effects, but also make patients feel more secure during the medical process and have higher overall satisfaction (Bisceglia et al., 2024).
Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics, 2025, Vol.13, No.6, 254-264 http://medscipublisher.com/index.php/cge 259 5 Key Factors Influencing the Therapeutic Effect of Multidisciplinary Teams 5.1 Team collaboration and organizational management Good teamwork is the foundation for multidisciplinary teams (MDTS) to achieve good results in cancer treatment. A smoothly running MDT usually has a leader with clear responsibilities, members respect each other, and there are not many obstacles for people from different specialties to communicate. Team leaders play a very crucial role in creating a harmonious and trusting working atmosphere, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to speak, and promoting unified decisions made by all. On the contrary, if there is a strong sense of hierarchy within the team, a lack of mutual trust, or unclear division of labor and responsibilities, it will undermine collaboration, cause decision-making delays, and may also affect the treatment outcome of patients (Horlait et al., 2021; Shin et al., 2025). Therefore, it is recommended to conduct communication skills and leadership training regularly to help improve the overall teamwork level and enable each member to have a stronger coping ability when facing complex cases (Alfieri et al., 2023; Li, 2025). Organizational management is also crucial for the effective operation of MDT. Reasonably arranging meeting time, leaving sufficient preparation time, and controlling the number of cases discussed each time are all keys to ensuring the quality of discussions and promptly determining treatment plans. Research shows that if the schedule is too full, the tasks are too heavy, or people's enthusiasm for participation is not high, it will affect the quality of decision-making and reduce the level of care. Institutions that attach great importance to team management, optimize meeting arrangements, and constantly monitor team performance are more capable of maintaining high-quality MDT work, thereby achieving better treatment outcomes for patients (Rosell et al., 2018; Soukup et al., 2018; Luu, 2021). 5.2 Information sharing and clinical decision support system Efficient information transmission is an important prerequisite for MDT to make reasonable and reliable decisions. Complete medical information - such as imaging examination results, pathological reports and the patient's thoughts - helps to take all relevant circumstances into account during the discussion (Rosell et al., 2018; Soukup et al., 2018). However, in actual work, there are still situations such as incomplete information, late issuance of pathological reports, and insufficient participation of non-doctor members like nurses, which affect the quality of judgment. To improve these issues, it is necessary to establish a unified and clear data collection process and encourage all types of healthcare workers, including nurses, to actively participate in discussions (Horlait et al., 2022). The application of digital tools and clinical decision support systems (CDSS) has made information sharing and daily processes smoother. CDSS can automatically summarize and organize patient data from different sources, making pre-meeting preparations more time-saving and labor-saving. It can also provide reference opinions based on existing treatment guidelines, reducing the workload and helping the team form treatment plans more quickly and accurately. Whether such systems can function effectively depends on whether they can be well integrated with electronic medical records, whether the content is updated in a timely manner, and whether medical staff have received adequate training. When CDSS is effectively combined with digital platforms, both the operational efficiency of MDT and the quality of diagnosis and treatment for patients can be significantly improved (Soo et al., 2021; Hendriks et al., 2024). 5.3 Institutional support and resource allocation The support from institutions such as hospitals is an important guarantee for the effective operation of MDT. Only by rationally allocating human resources and other resources, such as dedicated coordinators, administrative assistance and medical equipment, can MDT carry out its work smoothly (Rosell et al., 2018). Hospitals should allow team members sufficient time to prepare and attend meetings, and also provide continuous training and career development opportunities. If resources are insufficient, MDT may encounter problems such as too many cases, tight schedules, and inability to arrange them all, ultimately affecting the quality of patient care (Soukup et al., 2018; Luu, 2021).
Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics, 2025, Vol.13, No.6, 254-264 http://medscipublisher.com/index.php/cge 260 Resource investment also includes infrastructure construction, such as dedicated meeting rooms, remote medical consultation functions, and digital information management platforms, etc. As cancer treatment becomes increasingly complex, relevant institutions need to provide the necessary tools and funds to support the development of MDT. Such investment can not only improve the working efficiency and therapeutic effect of MDT, but also enhance the job satisfaction of medical staff, reduce talent loss, thereby bringing more long-term benefits to both patients and medical staff (Luu, 2021; Law et al., 2024). 6 Challenges and Improvement Strategies for MDT Promotion 6.1 Implementation obstacles and practical difficulties The role of multidisciplinary teams (MDTS) in cancer treatment has been widely recognized, but when it comes to actual promotion, there are still many problems that prevent it from playing a good role. Common problems include: doctors' schedules are fully booked, they are under great work pressure, and it is very troublesome to gather the time of multiple experts. In addition, poor communication among team members, unstable attendance, and prolonged meetings leading to fatigue among everyone will all affect the final treatment decisions and the care outcomes for patients. Resource issues such as insufficient manpower and inadequate administrative or technical support often prevent the advancement of MDT (Soukup et al., 2019; Law et al., 2024). There are still some troubles in the actual promotion. For instance, the patients' condition information is not fully conveyed or is not conveyed in a timely manner, which will make the effect of case discussions worse. The popularization of MDT is still restricted by many factors, such as insufficient funds, lack of dedicated meeting venues, and inadequate support from institutions like hospitals. These systemic issues, coupled with the barriers between different specialties and the unfamiliarity of everyone with this cooperative model, have all brought difficulties to truly achieving comprehensive and long-term multidisciplinary nursing (Scott, 2021; Morabito et al., 2024). 6.2 Evaluation system and quality control Establishing a sound evaluation method is the key to maintaining and improving the quality of MDT work. Nowadays, there are many assessment methods, such as filling out observation records, conducting self-assessment questionnaires, and using structured check forms, etc., to track from aspects such as team cooperation, information sharing, and the quality of decision-making (Soukup et al., 2018; Evans et al., 2019). These tools can help identify the strengths and weaknesses of the team, guide everyone to make targeted improvements, and continuously enhance the quality of work. For instance, using discussion lists to assist communication has been proven to enable everyone to reach consensus more quickly and also improve the quality of information discussion in meetings (Brown et al., 2021). Quality control also involves regularly inspecting daily work, allowing colleagues to evaluate each other, and comparing the results with existing standards to identify gaps. However, there are still some problems at present. There is no unified and clear evaluation standard, and it is also difficult to fully reflect various complex situations in MDT work. Maturity models and performance indicators provide a practical and usable tool for teams to conduct self-examination and long-term continuous observation. However, these methods still need further adjustment and validation to ensure their suitability for application in different medical institutions and environments (Evans et al., 2019; Liu et al., 2021). 6.3 Future development trends The development of new technologies and changes in care methods will have a significant impact on the application of MDT in cancer treatment. Artificial intelligence, clinical decision support systems (CDSS), and newer information technologies can help better manage and utilize patient data, improve work processes, and assist in formulating more accurate and individualized treatment plans. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, online MDT meetings have become increasingly common. This form is more flexible and enables more people to participate. It may also become a routine method frequently adopted in cancer treatment in the future (Winters et al., 2021).
Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics, 2025, Vol.13, No.6, 254-264 http://medscipublisher.com/index.php/cge 261 In addition, future MDTS will place greater emphasis on patient-centeredness, allowing patients to participate more deeply in the discussion of their conditions and treatment decisions. By incorporating the rehabilitation feedback from patients into the assessment and adding more professionals providing supportive care to the team, more comprehensive care can be achieved. To solve the current problems and continuously improve the effect of MDT in cancer treatment, it is very crucial to continuously conduct research, unify the best treatment norms, and invest sufficient training and resources (Selby et al., 2019; Scott, 2021). 7 Concluding Remarks The multidisciplinary team (MDT) model has become an important approach in modern cancer treatment. It enables doctors from different specialties to cooperate better, which can enhance the working efficiency of the entire medical system, make the treatment process smoother and the treatment plan more standardized. MDT can make medical services more closely and coherently connected, shorten the time from diagnosis to the start of treatment, and encourage doctors to treat diseases in accordance with scientific treatment guidelines. All these functions can help to use medical resources more rationally and improve the overall level of medical management. The implementation of MDT can also help form a systematic treatment approach and basic norms, promote the sharing of good experiences, and continuously improve the service quality of the entire medical system. The MDT diagnosis and treatment model has been proven many times to enable patients to recover better after treatment, such as improving survival rates, making diagnoses more accurate, and making patients more willing to follow the most suitable treatment plan. These effects can be observed in a variety of cancers, such as breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer and head and neck cancer, etc. In addition to the therapeutic effect, MDT will also provide all-round support, especially paying attention to the psychological state, dietary nutrition and rehabilitation needs of patients. This can improve the quality of life of patients and make them more satisfied. This form of cooperation can also enable patients and their families to be more involved in treatment decisions, making them more proactive and thus leading to better outcomes, such as reducing feelings of loneliness and helping them better cope with the disease. Looking ahead, as precision diagnosis and treatment, digital technology and patient-centered service models continue to advance, the role of MDT will be increasingly valued. Combining molecular testing, artificial intelligence and online MDT discussions can make the selection of treatment plans more based on evidence and enable more patients to receive more standardized and higher-quality medical services. Constantly conducting relevant research, collecting and analyzing feedback on patients' rehabilitation conditions for effect evaluation, is also conducive to continuously improving the practical work of MDT. As the medical system gradually improves, MDT will continue to play a significant role in the diagnosis and treatment of tumors, providing more high-quality, fair and individualized treatment, and better meeting patients' physical treatment needs as well as their psychological and social support requirements. Acknowledgments The author extends sincere thanks to two anonymous peer reviewers for their feedback on the manuscript. Conflict of Interest Disclosure The author affirms that this research was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. References Alfieri S., Brunelli C., Borreani C., Capri G., Angi M., Bianchi G., Lo Dico S., Spada P., Fusetti V., Zecca E., and Caraceni A., 2023, Characterizing different multidisciplinary team models implemented within one comprehensive cancer center, Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 16: 1845-1855. https://doi.org/10.2147/jmdh.s402348 Berardi R., Morgese F., Rinaldi S., Torniai M., Mentrasti G., Scortichini L., and Giampieri R., 2020, Benefits and limitations of a multidisciplinary approach in cancer patient management, Cancer Management and Research, 12: 9363-9374. https://doi.org/10.2147/cmar.s220976 Bilfinger T., Albano D., Perwaiz M., Keresztes R., and Nemesure B., 2018, Survival outcomes among lung cancer patients treated using a multidisciplinary team approach, Clinical Lung Cancer, 19: 346-351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cllc.2018.01.006
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