Multidisciplinary Teams Improve Biomarker Testing and Lung Cancer Care: Urs Weber, MD

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As the number of actionable biomarkers in thoracic oncology continues to grow, the role of the multidisciplinary care team evolves to ensure patients receive comprehensive biomarker testing and appropriate targeted therapies without unnecessary delays. Educating medical oncologists and other oncology specialists on patients’ care teams on the best standard of care and treatment pathway for patients is paramount, noted Usa Weber, MD, a thoracic oncologist in the Division of Medical Oncology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, in an interview with The American Journal of Managed Care^®.

“The pulmonologists are the ones who are actually often making the diagnosis,” Weber said. “And the most expeditious way for patients to then get to the appropriate cancer treatment is actually if we can get the pulmonologist to order that biomarker testing right at the outset when they’re getting that initial biopsy.”

Patients with thoracic cancers frequently require coordination among medical oncologists, pulmonologists, pathologists, radiologists, and molecular laboratories. At the University of Colorado, all newly diagnosed patients with lung cancers come through a multidisciplinary clinic to help address all patient needs across specialties, Weber explained. However, in rural or community practices, all of those specialists may not be represented.

“I think in an ideal world, you're trying to get as much information right up front,” he said. “Not just getting a diagnosis off of a biopsy, but once you see, okay, this is lung cancer, getting that biomarker testing because it really informs treatment, not just for patients with advanced or metastatic disease.”

Being able to meet with a cross-specialty care team at once helps everyone be on the same page and helps with provider and patient education.

“It's both sort of a nice opportunity to collaborate and move the patient care ahead more quickly, but also a good opportunity to educate each other and make sure that we're all sort of staying up to speed with what's going on in our respective disciplines so that all can come together to care for the patients,” Weber said.