Modern Colorectal Cancer Treatment: The Power of a Multidisciplinary Team

Jump To Section

• The Multidisciplinary Team (MD T) Approach
• Improvements in Surgical Quality
• Advances in Pathology Reporting
• New Medication and Chemotherapy Options
• Precision Medicine and Targeted Treatment
• The Critical Role of a Second Opinion
• Treating Advanced and Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

The Multidisciplinary Team (MD T) Approach

The multidisciplinary team approach represents the single most important advance in modern colorectal cancer treatment. Dr. David Kerr, MD, emphasizes that historically, specialists like surgeons, oncologists, and radiation therapists worked in isolation. Today, fully integrated MD T collaboration ensures superior decision-making for every patient. This team of experts collectively determines a precise diagnosis and formulates a personalized, comprehensive treatment plan from the outset.

Improvements in Surgical Quality

Enhanced surgical techniques, particularly for rectal cancer, are a direct benefit of the MD T framework. Dr. David Kerr, MD, notes that the quality of colorectal cancer surgery has seen marked improvement. These advances contribute significantly to better patient outcomes and are a cornerstone of the personalized treatment strategy developed by the multidisciplinary team.

Advances in Pathology Reporting

Accurate pathology is the bedrock of effective cancer treatment. The quality of pathology reporting has improved dramatically, providing the multidisciplinary team with the critical information needed to make optimal treatment decisions. As Dr. David Kerr, MD, explains, this detailed diagnostic data is essential for crafting a personalized and effective combat strategy against the disease.

New Medication and Chemotherapy Options

Medical oncology has contributed powerful new medications to the colorectal cancer treatment arsenal. Dr. David Kerr, MD, confirms that these newer chemotherapies are more effective against colon cancer. These treatment options are evaluated and selected by the multidisciplinary team, ensuring the chemotherapy regimen is perfectly tailored to the individual's specific cancer profile.

Precision Medicine and Targeted Treatment

Precision medicine is revolutionizing the approach to colorectal cancer. Molecular diagnosis allows the multidisciplinary team to understand the genetic drivers of a patient's tumor. This knowledge enables the selection of targeted therapies, moving beyond a one-size-fits-all approach to a truly personalized treatment plan that offers the best chance of success.

The Critical Role of a Second Opinion

Seeking a second opinion from an international multidisciplinary team is a crucial step for patients. Dr. Anton Titov, MD, and Dr. David Kerr, MD, discuss how this process confirms that the initial diagnosis is correct and complete. A second opinion provides confidence that the proposed treatment is indeed the best available and can even confirm that a cure remains possible, even in advanced cases.

Treating Advanced and Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

For patients with stage 4 colorectal cancer and metastases to organs like the liver or lungs, the MD T approach is indispensable. Dr. David Kerr, MD, stresses that the team carefully selects the best treatment options, which often involve a combination of surgery, targeted chemotherapy, and other modalities. This comprehensive strategy aims to manage the disease effectively and, in some cases, achieve a cure.

Full Transcript

Leading colorectal cancer expert from Oxford discusses recent advances in colon cancer treatment. Multidisciplinary Team (MD T) approach to evaluate colorectal cancer patients is the most important advance in colon cancer therapy.

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: Hello! Today we are with Dr. David Kerr, who is Professor of Cancer Medicine at University of Oxford. Dr. Kerr is also former President of the European Society for Medical Oncology. Dr. Kerr received his MD from University of Glasgow.

Dr. Kerr did his post-graduate training in clinical oncology and cancer research at several leading UK and the USA institutions. Dr. Kerr has large experience in public health and policy. He served as health adviser to the UK Secretary of Health. He also served as Chief Research Advisor for Sidra Medical and Research Center in Qatar.

Clinical and research interests of Dr. David J. Kerr, MD are in colorectal cancer genetics and treatment, and in cancer treatment organizations in the emerging markets. Dr. Kerr is an author of over 300 peer-reviewed scientific articles on cancer genetics and colorectal cancer. Dr. Kerr, hello and welcome.

Dr. David Kerr, MD: Thank you very much for that warm introduction.

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: Colorectal cancer treatment changed dramatically over the last decade. What are the major recent advances in colorectal cancer treatment?

Dr. David Kerr, MD: Over the past decade one of the most important colorectal cancer treatment achievements have been improvements in multidisciplinary teamwork to treat colorectal cancer. Previously each of the different specialties - surgery, oncology, radiation therapy - worked separately to treat patients with colon cancer. Now we work as fully integrated teams to treat colorectal cancer.

There is no doubt that decision making is better in multidisciplinary team approach to colon cancer and rectal cancer. The quality of colorectal cancer surgery has improved, particularly for rectal cancer. The quality of pathology reporting is better.

Pathologists give us information we need to make better colorectal cancer treatment decisions.

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: In medical oncology we have some useful new medications to treat colorectal cancer. These new medications are more effective to treat colon cancer. But multidisciplinary team to diagnose and treat colorectal cancer is key.

Dr. David Kerr, MD: Colorectal cancer treatment best options and advances. Video interview with leading colorectal cancer Dr. David Kerr (Oxford University). Molecular diagnosis. Treatment of colorectal cancer has made large progress in last 10 years. What are best treatment options for patients with colorectal cancer today? How precision medicine influences approach to colon cancer and rectal cancer treatment?

Multidisciplinary Team (MD T) method to evaluate colorectal cancer patients is the most important advance in colon cancer treatment. Multidisciplinary Team of colorectal cancer experts determines precise diagnosis and formulates personalized comprehensive treatment plan. This is the best colon cancer treatment approach.