Tumor Board Conferences for Multidisciplinary Skin Cancer Management: A Survey of US Cancer Centers

Authors:
Shoko Mori Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York; Department of Dermatology, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; and Melanoma and Immunotherapeutics Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Head and Neck Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Head and Neck Service, Department of Surgery, Ophthalmic Oncology Service, Department of Surgery, Gastric and Mixed Tumor Service, Department of Surgery, Department of Pathology, and Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.

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Cristian Navarrete-Dechent Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York; Department of Dermatology, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; and Melanoma and Immunotherapeutics Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Head and Neck Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Head and Neck Service, Department of Surgery, Ophthalmic Oncology Service, Department of Surgery, Gastric and Mixed Tumor Service, Department of Surgery, Department of Pathology, and Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York; Department of Dermatology, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; and Melanoma and Immunotherapeutics Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Head and Neck Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Head and Neck Service, Department of Surgery, Ophthalmic Oncology Service, Department of Surgery, Gastric and Mixed Tumor Service, Department of Surgery, Department of Pathology, and Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.

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Tatyana A. Petukhova Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York; Department of Dermatology, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; and Melanoma and Immunotherapeutics Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Head and Neck Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Head and Neck Service, Department of Surgery, Ophthalmic Oncology Service, Department of Surgery, Gastric and Mixed Tumor Service, Department of Surgery, Department of Pathology, and Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.

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Erica H. Lee Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York; Department of Dermatology, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; and Melanoma and Immunotherapeutics Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Head and Neck Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Head and Neck Service, Department of Surgery, Ophthalmic Oncology Service, Department of Surgery, Gastric and Mixed Tumor Service, Department of Surgery, Department of Pathology, and Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.

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Anthony M. Rossi Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York; Department of Dermatology, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; and Melanoma and Immunotherapeutics Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Head and Neck Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Head and Neck Service, Department of Surgery, Ophthalmic Oncology Service, Department of Surgery, Gastric and Mixed Tumor Service, Department of Surgery, Department of Pathology, and Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.

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Michael A. Postow Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York; Department of Dermatology, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; and Melanoma and Immunotherapeutics Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Head and Neck Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Head and Neck Service, Department of Surgery, Ophthalmic Oncology Service, Department of Surgery, Gastric and Mixed Tumor Service, Department of Surgery, Department of Pathology, and Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.

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Lara A. Dunn Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York; Department of Dermatology, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; and Melanoma and Immunotherapeutics Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Head and Neck Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Head and Neck Service, Department of Surgery, Ophthalmic Oncology Service, Department of Surgery, Gastric and Mixed Tumor Service, Department of Surgery, Department of Pathology, and Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.

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Benjamin R. Roman Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York; Department of Dermatology, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; and Melanoma and Immunotherapeutics Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Head and Neck Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Head and Neck Service, Department of Surgery, Ophthalmic Oncology Service, Department of Surgery, Gastric and Mixed Tumor Service, Department of Surgery, Department of Pathology, and Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.

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Vivian T. Yin Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York; Department of Dermatology, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; and Melanoma and Immunotherapeutics Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Head and Neck Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Head and Neck Service, Department of Surgery, Ophthalmic Oncology Service, Department of Surgery, Gastric and Mixed Tumor Service, Department of Surgery, Department of Pathology, and Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.

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Daniel G. Coit Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York; Department of Dermatology, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; and Melanoma and Immunotherapeutics Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Head and Neck Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Head and Neck Service, Department of Surgery, Ophthalmic Oncology Service, Department of Surgery, Gastric and Mixed Tumor Service, Department of Surgery, Department of Pathology, and Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.

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Travis J. Hollmann Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York; Department of Dermatology, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; and Melanoma and Immunotherapeutics Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Head and Neck Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Head and Neck Service, Department of Surgery, Ophthalmic Oncology Service, Department of Surgery, Gastric and Mixed Tumor Service, Department of Surgery, Department of Pathology, and Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.

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Klaus J. Busam Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York; Department of Dermatology, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; and Melanoma and Immunotherapeutics Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Head and Neck Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Head and Neck Service, Department of Surgery, Ophthalmic Oncology Service, Department of Surgery, Gastric and Mixed Tumor Service, Department of Surgery, Department of Pathology, and Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.

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Kishwer S. Nehal Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York; Department of Dermatology, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; and Melanoma and Immunotherapeutics Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Head and Neck Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Head and Neck Service, Department of Surgery, Ophthalmic Oncology Service, Department of Surgery, Gastric and Mixed Tumor Service, Department of Surgery, Department of Pathology, and Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.

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Christopher A. Barker Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York; Department of Dermatology, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; and Melanoma and Immunotherapeutics Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Head and Neck Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Head and Neck Service, Department of Surgery, Ophthalmic Oncology Service, Department of Surgery, Gastric and Mixed Tumor Service, Department of Surgery, Department of Pathology, and Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.

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Volume/Issue:
Volume 16: Issue 10
Online Publication Date:
Oct 2018
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.6004/jnccn.2018.7044
Restricted access

Background: Tumor board conferences (TBCs) are used by oncologic specialists to review patient cases, exchange knowledge, and discuss options for cancer management. These multidisciplinary meetings are often a cornerstone of treatment at leading cancer centers and are required for accreditation by certain groups, such as the American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer. Little is known regarding skin cancer TBCs. The objective of this study was to characterize the structure, function, and impact of existing skin cancer TBCs in the United States. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was administered to physician leaders of skin cancer TBCs at NCI-designated Comprehensive and Clinical Cancer Centers. Results: Of the 59 centers successfully contacted, 14 (24%) reported not having a conference where skin cancer cases were discussed, and 45 (76%) identified 53 physician leaders. A total of 38 physicians (72%) completed the survey. Half of the meeting leaders were medical and/or surgical oncologists, and dermatologists led one-third of meetings. TBCs had a moderate to significant impact on patient care according to 97% of respondents. All respondents indicated that the meetings enhanced communication among physicians and provided an opportunity for involved specialists and professionals to discuss cases. The most frequently cited barrier to organizing TBCs was determining a common available date and time for attendees (62%). The most common suggestion for improvement was to increase attendance, specialists, and/or motivation. Conclusions: Results showed overall consistency in meeting structure but variability in function, which may be a reflection of institutional resources and investment in the conference. Future directions include defining metrics to evaluate changes in diagnosis or management plan after tumor board discussion, attendance, clinical trial enrollment, and cost analysis. Results of this survey may aid other institutions striving to develop and refine skin cancer TBCs.

Author contributions: Data acquisition, analysis, and interpretation: All authors. Manuscript preparation and critical revision: All authors. Final approval: All authors.

Correspondence: Christopher A. Barker, MD, Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1250 First Avenue, New York, NY 10065. Email: barkerc@mskcc.org

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Print ISSN:
1540-1405
Online ISSN:
1540-1413
Publisher:
National Comprehensive Cancer Network
Cover Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network
Copyright:
Copyright © 2018 by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network 2018
Page Numbers:
7
Article Category:
Research Article
Received:
08 Feb 2018
Accepted:
07 May 2018
Print Publication Date:
01 Oct 2018
Online Publication Date:
Oct 2018

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