Association between treatment decisions and survival outcomes in lung cancer patients under a multidisciplinary team model: the impact of MDT-recommended treatment plans on treatment completion rates, survival time, and treatment conversion

Background The complexity of lung cancer management requires coordinated care. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Multidisciplinary Team (MDT)-recommended treatment plans on the treatment course and survival outcomes of lung cancer patients. Methods This single-center, retrospective cohort study enrolled consecutive patients with primary lung cancer who were initially diagnosed and received first anti-cancer treatment between January 1, 2020, and January 30, 2023. Patients were categorized into MDT (n=115) or non-MDT (n=105) groups based on whether the initial treatment decision was made via a formal MDT discussion. Key measures included treatment completion rate, treatment conversion, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and safety profiles. Follow-up data were collected until July 31, 2025. Results The MDT group demonstrated a significantly higher rate of completing the initial treatment as planned (86.09% vs. 68.57%, P = 0.002), a lower treatment conversion rate (19.13% vs. 39.05%, P = 0.001), and a longer time to conversion (8.41 vs. 5.16 months, P0.001). Patients in the MDT group had significantly longer median OS (45.21 vs. 28.64 months, P0.001) and PFS (19.80 vs. 13.53 months, P0.001). Multivariate analyses confirmed MDT participation as an independent factor associated with improved OS (HR = 0.605, P = 0.009) and a higher likelihood of treatment completion (OR = 3.438, P = 0.002). Conclusion The MDT model is associated with better treatment adherence, delayed treatment conversion, and significantly improved survival outcomes in lung cancer patients, and facilitates more precise initial treatment selection.