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).
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