1Department of Medicine, Nowon Eulji Medical Center, Eulji University, Eulji University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
2Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
© 2024 The Korean Liver Cancer Association.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Conflict of Interest
Dong Hyun Sinn is an editorial board member of Journal of Liver Cancer, and was not involved in the review process of this article. Otherwise, the authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Ethics Statement
This review article is fully based on articles which have already been published and did not involve additional patient participants. Therefore, IRB approval is not necessary.
Funding Statement
None.
Data Availability
Not applicable.
Author Contribution
Conceptualization: DHS
Investigation: JHO, DHS
Resources: JHO
Writing - original draft: JHO
Writing - review & editing: DHS
HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; EASL, European Association for the Study of the Liver; BCLC, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer; KLCA-NCC, Korean Liver Cancer Association-National Cancer Center; AASLD, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases; LR, liver imaging-reporting and data system; TACE, transarterial chemoembolization; SIRT, selective internal radiation therapy.
Study | Country | Study design | Sample size | Intervention | Specialized department convened | Topic discussed | Frequency |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chang et al.14 (2008) | USA | Retrospective | 121 | MDT | Hepatologists, oncologists, radiologists, and surgeons | Imagining and pathology interpretation, diagnosis, management | N/A |
Wiggans et al.13 (2013) | UK | Retrospective | 438 | MDT | Radiologists, oncologists, surgeons, and physicians | Radiological, pathological diagnosis differ | 1 week |
Yopp et al.15 (2014) | USA | Retrospective | 355 | MDT | Physicians from surgical oncology, transplant hepatology, interventional radiology, diagnostic radiology, radiation oncology, medical oncology | Imagining and pathology interpretation, diagnosis, management | 1 week |
Zhang et al.12 (2013) | USA | Retrospective | 343 | MDT | Surgical oncologist, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, radiologist, pathologist, interventional radiologist, hepatologist, and transplant surgeon | Imaging and pathology interpretation, diagnosis, and management plan | Occasionally |
Gashin et al.18 (2014) | USA | Retrospective | 137 | MDT | Five hepatologists, three oncologists, one radiation oncologist, three interventional radiologists, one pathologist, three surgeons, three radiologists, and five mid-level staff including nurses, nurse practitioners and physician assistants | Imaging and pathology interpretation, diagnosis, and management plan | 1 week |
Chirikov et al.20 (2015) | USA | Retrospective | 3,588 | Multispecialty (3 or more specialists) | Surgeons, radiology oncologist, intervention radiologist, hematologist/medical oncologist, gastroenterologist, and generalist | Imaging and pathology interpretation, diagnosis, and management plan | N/A |
Charriere et al.31 (2017) | France | Retrospective | 387 | MDT | Senior physicians, specialized in hepatology, oncology, hepatobiliary surgery, transplantation, and radiology | Treatment | 1 week |
Agarwal et al.33 (2017) | USA | Retrospective | 655 | MDT | Transplant hepatologists, medical oncologists, hepatobiliary and transplant surgeons, pathologists, diagnostic, and interventional radiologists | Imaging and pathology interpretation, diagnosis, and management plan | 1 week |
Serper et al.23 (2017) | USA | Retrospective | 3,988 | MDT | Hepatologists, gastroenterologists, surgeons, oncologists | Treatment | N/A |
Kaplan et al.16 (2018) | USA | Retrospective | 3,188 | MDT | Hepatologists, gastroenterologists, surgeons, oncologists | N/A | N/A |
Duininck et al.32 (2019) | USA | Retrospective | 204 | MDT | Surgical oncologist, interventional radiologist, hepatologist, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and internal medicine physicians | Imaging and pathology interpretation, diagnosis, and management plan | N/A |
Sinn et al.17 (2019) | Korea | Retrospective | 6,619 | MDT | Hepatologists, surgeons, diagnostic radiologists, interventional radiologists specialized at local ablation therapies, interventional radiologists specialized at transarterial embolotherapies, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, pathologists and coordinators | Imaging and pathology interpretation, diagnosis, and management plan | 1 week |
Tseng et al.21 (2023) | Taiwan | Retrospective | 32,784 | MDT | Integrated medical staff in each category | N/A | N/A |
Study | Etiology | Stage | Sample size (MDT vs. non-MDT) | Control | Follow-up periods (months) | Outcome (treatment) | Outcome (mortality) | Who benefits the most? |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chang et al.14 (2008) | HCV (69%) | AJCC stage I-IV | 183 (121 vs. 62) | Pre-MDT (previous 3 years) | 9.5 vs. 4.5 | Receiving curative treatment (19% vs. 6%, P<0.001) | Survival rate during follow-up periods (65% vs. 21%, P<0.001) | AJCC stage II and IV |
Yopp et al.15 (2014) | HCV (60%) | BCLC A-D | 355 (105 vs. 250) | Pre-MDT (previous 4 years) | 7.9 vs. 4.2 | Receiving curative treatment (21% vs. 10%, P=0.006) | Adjusted HR 2.5 (2-3) for overall survival | BCLC B, C, and D |
Gashin et al.18 (2014) | HCV (62%) | N/A | 137 (N/A) | Non-adherence to MDT decision | N/A | Receiving liver transplantation (25.6%vs.14.4%,P=0.10) | 1 year survival rate (61.7% vs. 56.7%, P=0.29) | N/A |
Chirikov et al.20 (2015) | HCV | Cancer stage 1-4 | 3,588 (1,434 vs. 811) | One discipline | N/A | Higher rate of liver-directed, radiation, and transplant, and low rate of resection and chemotherapy (P<0.001) | Adjusted HR 0.90 (P=0.04) | Chemotherapy recipients |
Charriere et al.31 (2017) | Alcohol (40%) | BCLC 0-D | 387 (255 vs. 132) | Not following MDT decision | 27.5 | N/A | Adjusted HR 0.39 (95% CI, 0.27-0.54) | MELD <10 |
Agarwal et al.33 (2017) | N/A | T2 stage (36%) | 655 (306 vs. 349) | Not managed through MDT | N/A | Receiving any treatment (OR, 2.80; 95% CI, 1.71-4.59) | Adjusted HR 0.72 (95% CI, 0.55-0.94) | T2 tumor stage |
Serper et al.23 (2017) | HCV and alcohol (39%) | BCLC 0-D | 3,988 (1,366 vs. 2,622) | Not managed through MDT | 1.1* | Receiving active HCC therapy (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 0.98-1.46) | Adjusted HR 0.83 (95% CI, 0.77-0.90) | N/A |
Kaplan et al.16 (2018) | HCV and alcohol (39%) | BCLC 0-D | 3,188 (2,062 vs. 1,121) | Not managed through MDT | N/A | N/A | Mean survival (597.4 vs. 471.9 days) | N/A |
Duininck et al.32 (2019) | HCV | BCLC 1-4 | 204 (134 vs. 70) | Pre-MDT | N/A | Receiving surgery (49% vs. 30%, P=0.02) | Adjusted HR 0.62 (95% CI, 0.40-0.98) | N/A |
Sinn et al.17 (2019) | HBV (76.3%) | BCLC 0-D | 6,619 (738 vs. 5,881) | Pre-MDT | 3.5* | Receiving curative treatment (48.1% vs. 55.9%) | Adjusted HR 0.47 (95% CI, 0.41-0.53) | ALBI grade 2, 3 |
BCLC B, C | ||||||||
High AFP ≥200 ng/mL | ||||||||
Tseng et al.21 (2023) | HBV or HCV | BCLC 0-D | 32,784 (10,928 vs. 21,856) | Not managed through MDT | N/A | N/A | Adjusted HR 0.88 (95% CI, 0.84-0.92) | BCLC B, C |
MDT, multidisciplinary team; HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; HCV, hepatitis C virus; AJCC, American Joint Committee on Cancer; BCLC, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer; HR, hazard ratio; N/A, not assessed; MELD, model for end-stage liver disease; OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; ALBI, albumin-bilirubin; AFP, alpha-fetoprotein.
* years.
Study societies | EASL6 (2018) | BCLC7 (2022) | KLCA-NCC8 (2022) | AASLD9 (2023) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Diagnosis and staging | Recommends local multidisciplinary board discussion for tiny typical lesions | Multidisciplinary approach is key from diagnosis to treatment strategy | For probable HCC, consider follow-up imaging or biopsy within 3 months | Advises multidisciplinary discussion for optimal follow-up of LR-4 observation and consideration of biopsies for LR-4 and LR-5 |
Multidisciplinary discussion for treatment plan | Emphasizes multidisciplinary tumor board for tumor staging | |||
Team composition | Implies involvement of various specialties | Includes expert radiologists, interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, nurses, clinicians, surgeons, palliative care specialists, and social workers | Includes hepatologists, gastroenterologists, surgeons, radiologists, oncologists, and other medical practitioners | Includes hepatologists, radiologists, pathologists, surgeons, oncologists, nurses, social workers, and palliative care providers |
Treatment | Multidisciplinary teams for tailored treatment options | Multidisciplinary discussions for best treatment option due to heterogeneity | Multidisciplinary approach key to improving satisfaction, reducing progression, prolonging survival | Managed in multidisciplinary care setting |
Specific treatment Considerations | Stage migration strategy pending multidisciplinary decision | Not specifically addressed | Multidisciplinary approach with palliative care for pain management | Oncologic outcomes vs. liver decompensation requires multidisciplinary assessment |
No single surgical modality suits all HCC presentations | Extended surgical resection indications and down staging to Milan criteria after multidisciplinary discussion; systemic therapy decisions best performed multidisciplinary | |||
A multidisciplinary approach is essential | ||||
TACE should be considered for patients with segmental portal vein tumor invasion in multidisciplinary team sessions | ||||
The use of SIRT vs. sorafenib in advanced HCC should be determined after multidisciplinary board discussion due to unproven survival benefits |
Study | Country | Study design | Sample size | Intervention | Specialized department convened | Topic discussed | Frequency |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chang et al.14 (2008) | USA | Retrospective | 121 | MDT | Hepatologists, oncologists, radiologists, and surgeons | Imagining and pathology interpretation, diagnosis, management | N/A |
Wiggans et al.13 (2013) | UK | Retrospective | 438 | MDT | Radiologists, oncologists, surgeons, and physicians | Radiological, pathological diagnosis differ | 1 week |
Yopp et al.15 (2014) | USA | Retrospective | 355 | MDT | Physicians from surgical oncology, transplant hepatology, interventional radiology, diagnostic radiology, radiation oncology, medical oncology | Imagining and pathology interpretation, diagnosis, management | 1 week |
Zhang et al.12 (2013) | USA | Retrospective | 343 | MDT | Surgical oncologist, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, radiologist, pathologist, interventional radiologist, hepatologist, and transplant surgeon | Imaging and pathology interpretation, diagnosis, and management plan | Occasionally |
Gashin et al.18 (2014) | USA | Retrospective | 137 | MDT | Five hepatologists, three oncologists, one radiation oncologist, three interventional radiologists, one pathologist, three surgeons, three radiologists, and five mid-level staff including nurses, nurse practitioners and physician assistants | Imaging and pathology interpretation, diagnosis, and management plan | 1 week |
Chirikov et al.20 (2015) | USA | Retrospective | 3,588 | Multispecialty (3 or more specialists) | Surgeons, radiology oncologist, intervention radiologist, hematologist/medical oncologist, gastroenterologist, and generalist | Imaging and pathology interpretation, diagnosis, and management plan | N/A |
Charriere et al.31 (2017) | France | Retrospective | 387 | MDT | Senior physicians, specialized in hepatology, oncology, hepatobiliary surgery, transplantation, and radiology | Treatment | 1 week |
Agarwal et al.33 (2017) | USA | Retrospective | 655 | MDT | Transplant hepatologists, medical oncologists, hepatobiliary and transplant surgeons, pathologists, diagnostic, and interventional radiologists | Imaging and pathology interpretation, diagnosis, and management plan | 1 week |
Serper et al.23 (2017) | USA | Retrospective | 3,988 | MDT | Hepatologists, gastroenterologists, surgeons, oncologists | Treatment | N/A |
Kaplan et al.16 (2018) | USA | Retrospective | 3,188 | MDT | Hepatologists, gastroenterologists, surgeons, oncologists | N/A | N/A |
Duininck et al.32 (2019) | USA | Retrospective | 204 | MDT | Surgical oncologist, interventional radiologist, hepatologist, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and internal medicine physicians | Imaging and pathology interpretation, diagnosis, and management plan | N/A |
Sinn et al.17 (2019) | Korea | Retrospective | 6,619 | MDT | Hepatologists, surgeons, diagnostic radiologists, interventional radiologists specialized at local ablation therapies, interventional radiologists specialized at transarterial embolotherapies, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, pathologists and coordinators | Imaging and pathology interpretation, diagnosis, and management plan | 1 week |
Tseng et al.21 (2023) | Taiwan | Retrospective | 32,784 | MDT | Integrated medical staff in each category | N/A | N/A |
Study | Etiology | Stage | Sample size (MDT vs. non-MDT) | Control | Follow-up periods (months) | Outcome (treatment) | Outcome (mortality) | Who benefits the most? |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chang et al.14 (2008) | HCV (69%) | AJCC stage I-IV | 183 (121 vs. 62) | Pre-MDT (previous 3 years) | 9.5 vs. 4.5 | Receiving curative treatment (19% vs. 6%, P<0.001) | Survival rate during follow-up periods (65% vs. 21%, P<0.001) | AJCC stage II and IV |
Yopp et al.15 (2014) | HCV (60%) | BCLC A-D | 355 (105 vs. 250) | Pre-MDT (previous 4 years) | 7.9 vs. 4.2 | Receiving curative treatment (21% vs. 10%, P=0.006) | Adjusted HR 2.5 (2-3) for overall survival | BCLC B, C, and D |
Gashin et al.18 (2014) | HCV (62%) | N/A | 137 (N/A) | Non-adherence to MDT decision | N/A | Receiving liver transplantation (25.6%vs.14.4%,P=0.10) | 1 year survival rate (61.7% vs. 56.7%, P=0.29) | N/A |
Chirikov et al.20 (2015) | HCV | Cancer stage 1-4 | 3,588 (1,434 vs. 811) | One discipline | N/A | Higher rate of liver-directed, radiation, and transplant, and low rate of resection and chemotherapy (P<0.001) | Adjusted HR 0.90 (P=0.04) | Chemotherapy recipients |
Charriere et al.31 (2017) | Alcohol (40%) | BCLC 0-D | 387 (255 vs. 132) | Not following MDT decision | 27.5 | N/A | Adjusted HR 0.39 (95% CI, 0.27-0.54) | MELD <10 |
Agarwal et al.33 (2017) | N/A | T2 stage (36%) | 655 (306 vs. 349) | Not managed through MDT | N/A | Receiving any treatment (OR, 2.80; 95% CI, 1.71-4.59) | Adjusted HR 0.72 (95% CI, 0.55-0.94) | T2 tumor stage |
Serper et al.23 (2017) | HCV and alcohol (39%) | BCLC 0-D | 3,988 (1,366 vs. 2,622) | Not managed through MDT | 1.1 |
Receiving active HCC therapy (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 0.98-1.46) | Adjusted HR 0.83 (95% CI, 0.77-0.90) | N/A |
Kaplan et al.16 (2018) | HCV and alcohol (39%) | BCLC 0-D | 3,188 (2,062 vs. 1,121) | Not managed through MDT | N/A | N/A | Mean survival (597.4 vs. 471.9 days) | N/A |
Duininck et al.32 (2019) | HCV | BCLC 1-4 | 204 (134 vs. 70) | Pre-MDT | N/A | Receiving surgery (49% vs. 30%, P=0.02) | Adjusted HR 0.62 (95% CI, 0.40-0.98) | N/A |
Sinn et al.17 (2019) | HBV (76.3%) | BCLC 0-D | 6,619 (738 vs. 5,881) | Pre-MDT | 3.5 |
Receiving curative treatment (48.1% vs. 55.9%) | Adjusted HR 0.47 (95% CI, 0.41-0.53) | ALBI grade 2, 3 |
BCLC B, C | ||||||||
High AFP ≥200 ng/mL | ||||||||
Tseng et al.21 (2023) | HBV or HCV | BCLC 0-D | 32,784 (10,928 vs. 21,856) | Not managed through MDT | N/A | N/A | Adjusted HR 0.88 (95% CI, 0.84-0.92) | BCLC B, C |
HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; EASL, European Association for the Study of the Liver; BCLC, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer; KLCA-NCC, Korean Liver Cancer Association-National Cancer Center; AASLD, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases; LR, liver imaging-reporting and data system; TACE, transarterial chemoembolization; SIRT, selective internal radiation therapy.
MDT, multidisciplinary team; HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; USA, United States of America; N/A, not assessed; UK, United Kingdom.
MDT, multidisciplinary team; HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; HCV, hepatitis C virus; AJCC, American Joint Committee on Cancer; BCLC, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer; HR, hazard ratio; N/A, not assessed; MELD, model for end-stage liver disease; OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; ALBI, albumin-bilirubin; AFP, alpha-fetoprotein. years.