title: Multidisciplinary cancer care may impact on the postoperative mortality and survival of patients with oesophageal and oesophagogastric junction cancer: a retrospective cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Modern management of Oesophageal and oesophagogastric junction (OGJ) cancers requires a multidisciplinary approach, which was implemented at our health centre in 2005. This study aimed to assess the impact of this change on clinical outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort study was conducted, covering all patients treated for oesophageal and OGJ cancer at the cancer centre established by the Bellvitge University Hospital and Catalonian Institute of Oncology, over two time periods, i.e. 2000-2004 and 2005-2008. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were performed using survival at 1 and 3 years as dependent variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2008, 586 patients were included. Number of patients with unknown stage at diagnosis was significantly reduced. Preoperative strategies at the oesophageal location clearly increased in the recent period. A multidisciplinary approach resulted in a significant reduction in surgical mortality (11.8 vs. 2 %) in the period 2005-2008. Analysis restricted to patients undergoing surgery with curative intent indicated a significant increase in 1- and 3-year survival in the latter period (68.4 vs. 89.8 and 38.2 vs. 57.1 %, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that variables associated with improved survival were: age; tumour stage; radical intent of treatment (surgery and radical combined chemoradiotherapy); and therapeutic strategy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Better selection of patients for therapy together with improved staging resulted in a significant improvement in 1- and 3-year survival in cases undergoing surgery with curative intent. These changes would support the adoption of a multidisciplinary approach to clinical decision-making in cases of oesophageal and OGJ cancer.
authors.affiliation: Multidisciplinary Oesophagogastric Tumour Committee and Unit, Catalonian Institute of Oncology, IDIBELL, Barcelona, Spain, mnomen@iconcologia.net.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galán
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Farran
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aliste
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hormigo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aranda
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bettonica
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Boladeras
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Botargues
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calvo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Creus
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: De Lama
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Gornals
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mast
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miró
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Paúles
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robles
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Virgili
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Borràs
mesh_terms: D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome