Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Given the poor outcomes and treatment complexities in Stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC)-especially in challenging subgroups-we aimed to assess whether a multidisciplinary tumour board (MTB) approach combined with surgical intervention could improve overall survival (OS). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 242 patients with Stage III NSCLC treated from January 2018 to September 2023. Patients were managed either via MTB discussions or standard care and were further categorized based on whether they underwent surgical resection. RESULTS: Patients whose cases were discussed in an MTB demonstrated significantly improved overall 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival across the entire Stage III cohort, with particularly pronounced benefits in the Stage IIIC subgroup. In addition, surgical intervention was associated with significantly higher OS at 1, 3 and 5 years for all Stage III patients, and these benefits were especially evident among those with Stage IIIA disease. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that both MTB discussions and surgical resection are associated with higher observed OS in Stage III NSCLC. These results support the potential clinical value of integrating multidisciplinary treatment strategies to optimize outcomes in this challenging patient population.