The Scientific Days of the Bucharest Oncological Institute 2021 have a new beginning, in the sense of a return to the recognition of the central role of this institution in the medical community. This results from the participation of a significant number of medical personalities, with interesting presentations and debates. Thus, I will quote Irinel Popescu, Gabriel Dimofte, Cătălina Poiană, Florin Mihălţan, Ioan Cordoş, Gheorghe Peltecu and many others known for their involvement in cancer treatment.

On the other hand, we also have an im­por­tant presence of medical oncologists from big oncology centers from Romania, less Cluj-Napoca. The works are organi­zed in the form of a “tumor board”, being led by personalities of the institute, such as: Eugen Brătucu, Alexandru Blidaru, Ro­di­ca Anghel, Teodor Horvat, Dana Stăn­cu­lea­nu, Laurenţia Galeş, Maria Gruia (basic researcher), and the new generation of oncologists who will coordinate the acti­vi­ty of the institute in the future: Bogdan Tănase, An­dreea Lăzescu, Daniela Zob, Virgiliu Pru­no­iu, Marian Marincaş, Silviu Voinea, Cris­tian Bordea, Laurenţiu Simion, Mihnea Davidescu, Natalia Motaş, Cristina Ştefan etc.

Because, as I mentioned, the work of the conference is carried out under the sign of a tumor board, I will mention some of its benefits and limitations, as it ap­pears from literature.

From the outset, I must say that, after the consolidation of tumor-board experience in clinical practice, certain aspects have emerged as controversial and as a source of current debate.

Thus, the benefits and limitations are discussed throughout the medical community as a result of the dissemination of such approaches.

Some issues – such as costs, legal res­pon­­si­­bility, geographic barriers and treat­ment delays – have yet to be resolved.

The multidisciplinary approach in cancer care has been explored in terms of adherence to clinical guidelines, treatment outcomes and overall improvement in the decision-making processes.

Many problems in cancer management are raised by medical oncology, where, due to the increasing complexity of the di­sease, we cannot believe that the oncologist is able to make all the appropriate treatment options for each patient.

In general, studies have shown that a high number of multidisciplinary tumor board meetings per case leads to an improved clinical outcome.

Evidence on the impact of tumor boards on clinical practices is still lacking for many aspects of cancer care. Further studies should aim at evaluating the impact on survival rates, quality of life, and patient satisfaction. Regular studies should be carried out and new process indicators should be defined to assess the impact and performance of tumor boards more consistently.