The National Ewing’s Multi-Disciplinary Team (‘NEMDT’) exists to improve the treatment of patients with Ewing’s sarcoma. It brings together UK clinicians to discuss the management of patients with Ewing’s sarcoma. It enables a highly effective exchange of good practice and development of consensus in the best treatment of patients with Ewing’s sarcoma. Since its establishment it has discussed over 200 patients. As the NEMDT is not funded, the ESRT has paid for a one-year fellowship to help develop and increase the effectiveness of the NEMDT. Dr Jessica Bate, Consultant in Paediatric Oncology, took up the fellowship and began reviewing the work of the NEMDT, the use of current collated data and analyse these to determine any impact upon survival rates. You can read more below:
“The National Ewing’s Multi-Disciplinary Team (‘NEMDT’) is a unique national forum which exists to improve the treatment of patients with Ewing’s sarcoma.
It was created in 2011 as a result of the publication of the results of a European clinical trial. This trial demonstrated superior survival rates among patients treated in Germany than those treated in the UK. Further analysis suggested that less consistent and differing approaches to treatment of the primary tumour (i.e. surgical removal and/or radiotherapy) led to this discrepancy in survival rates.
The NEMDT brings together clinicians from across the UK and all relevant specialties (including core medical and surgical members) to discuss the management of patients with Ewing’s sarcoma. In doing so, it enables a highly effective exchange of good practice and development of consensus in the best treatment of patients with Ewing’s sarcoma. Since it was established the NEMDT has discussed over 200 patients.
It is suggested that the above model has demonstrated a positive impact and provides a highly valuable collection of clinical data for analysis by clinical experts.
As the NEMDT does not have access to the necessary funding, ESRT has funded a one year fellowship to support the development of, and increase the effectiveness of, the NEMDT by providing the necessary resources to:
1. review its work to date;
2. review the use of collated data; and
3. analyse the available data to determine any impact upon survival rates.
The fellowship is expected to have a highly positive impact in developing the NEMDT and consequently improving the management and treatment of patients with Ewing’s sarcoma in the UK.
Dr Jessica Bate, Consultant in Paediatric Oncology, University Hospital Southampton has taken up the fellowship and will:
- design a study to review the experience of the NEMDT and its members to date;
analyse the available clinical data;
- compare NEMDT database data with the specification for Cancer Outcomes and Services Database;
- establish the ability to download relevant information onto the National Cancer Registration Service for England; and
- produce one or more clinical scientific papers about Ewing’s sarcoma.
At the end of the fellowship we aim to have a better understanding of the effectiveness and functioning of the NEMDT, and clearer ideas about how it should develop.”
ESRT is delighted to be funding this important work to support the NEMDT to improve the outcomes for patients being treated for Ewing’s sarcoma.