Ms. Wang is a 47-year-old patient who suffers from advanced gastric cancer. The disease had already spread beyond the original tumor site with extensive abdominal and pelvic implantation at the very moment of diagnosis. Fortunately, neither physicians nor the patient had given up. After consulting the multidisciplinary team of PUMCH for the management of difficult gastro-esophageal cancer (hereafter referred to “MDT for gastro-esphageal cancer”), she took an active treatment against cancer for 19 months. Thanks to the timely treatment, the metastatic sites of this malignancy had shrunk to half the original size. As a result, she was able to receive the total gastrectomy and gain a possible prolonged survival. This case is a typical example of how our MDT for gastro-esophageal cancer creates miracles of life with their wisdom and hard work.

The MDT for gastro-esophageal cancer at PUMCH was established in 2019 and consists of specialists from 11 departments. So far, this MDT has delivered professional advice for over 300 patients. Bai Chunmei, Director of the Department of Oncology, told us that “in China, 75% of patients are already at the progressive or advanced stage when they are diagnosed with gastric-esophageal cancer and their prognosis is usually poor. By offering consultations, MDT effectively prolongs the survival of patients with advanced gastro-esophageal cancer.” Based on data including 267 cases of stage IV gastric cancer, Zhao Lin, Deputy Director of the Department of Oncology, found that the median survival of 114 patients who sought MDT consultations before or during the process of treatment reached 18.4 months, much longer than that of 153 patients who were treated without MDT’s participation (11.4 months). Such a difference is statistically significant.

Zhang Shuyang, President of PUMCH once pointed out that MDT not only helps establish a golden standard for the diagnosis and treatment of a certain variety of diseases, but also encourages large public hospitals in China to take more responsibilities in treating difficult and critical cases. Our multidisciplinary collaboration really builds a win-win situation. It may offer patients the optimal treatment options and at the same time become a portrait of clinicians’ professionalism. MDT is the gateway for public hospitals to improve their quality and performance in medical services and achieve high-quality development.

A group photo of the MDT for gastro-esophageal cancer

Specialists held pink carnations to celebrate the 100th multidisciplinary consultation on difficult esophagogastric tumors

Reporter Gan Dingzhu

Correspondent: Ge Yuping

Picture: Yu Jianchun and Ge Yuping  

Translator: Liu Haiyan

Editor: Ge Yuping, Zhou Na and Wang Yao