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

Andrea Di Pilla, Maria Rosaria Cozzolino, Alice Mannocci, Elettra Carini, Federica Spina, Francesco Castrini, Albino Grieco, Rosaria Messina, Gianfranco Damiani and Maria Lucia Specchia ()
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Andrea Di Pilla: Clinical Governance Department, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
Maria Rosaria Cozzolino: Azienda Regionale Emergenza Sanitaria 118, Via Portuense 240, 00149 Rome, Italy
Alice Mannocci: Faculty of Economics, Università “Universitas Mercatorum”, Piazza Mattei 10, 00186 Rome, Italy
Elettra Carini: ASL Roma 1, 00193 Rome, Italy
Federica Spina: Department of Maternal, Children and Adult Medical and Surgical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, 41121 Modena, Italy
Francesco Castrini: Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy
Albino Grieco: Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy
Rosaria Messina: Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy
Gianfranco Damiani: Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy
Maria Lucia Specchia: Clinical Governance Department, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 22, 1-14

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: tumor board; multidisciplinary team; breast cancer; healthcare; outcomes; diagnosis; treatment; survival (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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