Dr Bekaii-Saab on the Benefits of Multidisciplinary Conferences in GI Cancer Care

Tanios Bekaii-Saab, MD, FACP, professor, medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science; leader, Gastrointestinal Cancer Program, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center; medical director, Cancer Clinical Research Office; vice chair, section chief, Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, discusses the benefits of multidisciplinary conferences within the gastrointestinal (GI) cancer treatment field.

One of the key benefits of a conference involving colleagues from various disciplines is the ability to address subjects pertinent to medical oncologists and simultaneously integrate the entire multidisciplinary team into discussions relevant to patients with GI malignancies, Bekaii-Saab begins. These malignancies have become quite complex, and the role of medical oncologists is now central to these discussions, he adds. For example, in the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, medical oncologists, once secondary considerations, are now pivotal in the treatment decision-making process, according to Bekaii-Saab. They manage advanced cases, coordinate locoregional therapies, and, for some patients, facilitate transplantation, Bekaii-Saab reports.

The increasing complexity of GI malignancies requires medical oncologists to navigate these challenges adeptly, Bekaii-Saab says. For example, at a plenary session during the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting, findings from a study investigating the value of radiation therapy combined with chemotherapy vs chemotherapy alone followed by surgery for patients with GI cancers was presented, he continues. The findings indicated that radiation may not be necessary for most patients with early-stage gastroesophageal cancers. However, this is a critical discussion to have with radiation oncologists, as there may still be certain patients, such as those who are frail and/or elderly, who could benefit from radiation as an alternative to more intensive chemotherapy, Bekaii-Saab reiterates.

Additionally, the role of immunotherapy in treating patients with GI malignancies is crucial in both the early and later stages of disease, Bekaii-Saab emphasizes. Involving the multidisciplinary team at all stages of patient care is essential to optimize outcomes and improve survival rates, Bekaii-Saab states. This collaborative approach ensures that patients receive the most comprehensive and effective treatment plans that are tailored to their needs and circumstances, he concludes.