The Impact of Tumor Boards on Breast Cancer Care: Evidence from a Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Nov 14;19(22):14990. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192214990.

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women, with a complex clinical path that involves several professionals and that requires a multidisciplinary approach. However, the effectiveness of breast cancer multidisciplinary care and the processes that contribute to its effectiveness have not yet been firmly determined. This study aims to evaluate the impact of multidisciplinary tumor boards on breast cancer care outcomes. A systematic literature review was carried out through Scopus, Web of Science and Pubmed databases. The search was restricted to articles assessing the impact of MTB implementation on breast cancer care. Fourteen studies were included in the review. The most analyzed outcomes were diagnosis, therapy and survival. Four out of four studies showed that, with implementation of an MTB, there was a change in diagnosis, and all reported changes in the treatment plan after MTB implementation. A pooled analysis of three studies reporting results on the outcome "mortality" showed a statistically significant 14% reduction in mortality relative risk for patients enrolled versus not enrolled in an MTB. This study shows that MTB implementation is a valuable approach to deliver appropriate and effective care to patients affected by breast cancer and to improve their outcomes.

Keywords: breast cancer; diagnosis; healthcare; multidisciplinary team; outcomes; survival; treatment; tumor board.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Breast
  • Breast Neoplasms* / therapy
  • Critical Pathways
  • Female
  • Humans
  • PubMed
  • Publications

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.