Cochrane Neuro-Oncology Group (CNOG)
Room Sormiou, Marseille Conference Center
EANO X, Marseille, France
Friday 7th September at 11am
Present
Khe Hoang- Xuan (Fr), Kathy Oliver (CNOG Consumer Representative, UK), Michael
Hart (CNOG Co-ordinating Editor, UK), James Perry (Canada), Ally Rooney (UK), Mark
Gilbert (US), Robin Grant (CNOG Co-ordinating Editor, UK), Martin Taphoorn (NL),
Gail Quinn (CNOG Managing Editor, UK), Karolis Zienius (UK), Guido Cavaletti (It),
Paolo Alberti (It).
Apologies
Riccardo Soffietti (It), Andrea Pace (It), Martin Van den Bent (NL), Simon Kerrigan
(UK), (concurrent EANO commitments)
Unable to attend EANO
Paul Brown (US), Lynn Kilbride (UK)
Dr Grant welcomed attendees to the meeting, thanked EANO for providing facilities
for the meeting. He explained invitations were sent to potential Contact Editors
because of their interest and experience in evidence based neuro-oncology, but the
meeting was also open to those who had published a review and those who were
considering publishing reviews. Dr Grant acknowledged the support of EANO and
IBTA in producing articles about the Cochrane Neuro-Oncology Group
http://www.kup.at/journals/summary/10638.html
The reason for the first meeting was to more fully explain the Cochrane
Collaboration, the process of completing a review and what support was available
for authors. The meeting would also cover the role of Contact Editors for sections of
the Cochrane Neuro-Oncology Group. Finally, the aim was to identify areas where
there was a need for a review and explore ways of encouraging reviews in areas
where trials existed, but no systematic reviews were published. We are also keen to
encourage young motivated authors into evidence based medicine, supported by
experts in the field.
Gail Quinn, Managing Editor of Gynaecological Cancer Review Group which also
publishes reviews in neuro-oncology outlined the role of Cochrane in performing
high quality systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials on a broad range of
health topics. She explained that Cochrane uses transparent, replicable, accountable
methodology for appraising and summarising of relevant research, identifying gaps
in knowledge and setting priorities for new research. The reviews are for clinicians,
health care providers, consumers, researchers and policy makers. She outlined the
Editorial process for a Cochrane Protocol and when contact editors need to input
their comments and suggestions. Ms Quinn explained the various Cochrane training
packages available online, workshops, webinars and other resources. Cochrane has a
central server for managing documents, contacts details and workflows (Archie
Content Management System) and software packages used for writing reviews
(RevMan). RevMan allows authors to prepare text, build the tables showing the
characteristics of studies and the comparisons in the review and to add study data. It
performs meta-analyses and presents the results graphically and enables
contributors to the Cochrane Collaboration to meet the demands of producing high
quality systematic reviews for publication in The Cochrane Library and elsewhere.
Dr Michael Hart, Co-ordinating Editor of the Cochrane Neuro-Oncology Group,
presented information on the 30 completed reviews, of relevance to the neurooncology community now found on the Neuro-Oncology Cochrane website
previously spread across many Cochrane Review Groups,(e.g. Palliative Care (PaPaS),
Epilepsy, Lung, Childhood, Back CRGs), in addition to the Gynaecology Cochrane
Review Group which supports smaller cancer sites (e.g. Neuro-Oncology). He showed
the geographical representation of current authors across the world and explained
that there are Cochrane Centers in many countries that may assist in support and
training. Dr Hart demonstrated aspects of a review including statistical input, risk of
bias, forest and funnel plots.
Dr Grant then completed the presentations, explaining that the Group were looking
for contact editors, with experience in specific areas; e.g. glioma, metastasis, primary
CNS lymphoma, spinal cord, neuropathy, quality of life and palliative care and that
he hoped those approached, having heard more about Cochrane and the level of
commitment required, would accept the roles of contact editors. He also explained
the vision of linking Cochrane neuro-oncology evidence based training with major
societies such as EANO, SNO, ASNO, AAN Neuro-Oncology Section and patient
charity groups (IBTA). He would ask the contact editors to consider areas in their
expertise where they felt a Cochrane Review was desirable and consider who could
be approached. Once suggestions were received he would organise a prioritisation
meeting to decide which reviews should be selected for submission for a Programme
Grant Application to enable these to be done.
The Cochrane publication policy allows for reviews to be simultaneously published in
international scientific print journals, by agreement.
(http://www.cochrane.org/policy-manual/225-publication-versions-cochranereviews-print-journals)
Dr Grant informed the group that a collaborative submission from three
international centres, led by Karin Gehring (NL) will produce a review entitled “
Interventions for cognitive deficits in adults with radiation-induced cognitive
impairment”. This was selected, by the Cochrane Neuro-Onc Group/ Gyn Cancer
CRG, as one of two proposals submitted to NIHR for consideration for a Cochrane
Incentive Grant.
Prof Gilbert felt that this link between evidence based training in Neuro-Oncology
assisted by the Cochrane Collaboration fitted well with the educational role of SNO.
Although, not part of that committee, he felt that an approach from the Cochrane
group to explore collaboration would be important.
Prof Perry suggested identifying topics and putting a call out for potential interest.
Kathy Oliver said that this would be of great interest to patients and IBTA had
worldwide links to groups and consumers which could be used for calls for interest.
Dr. Grant considered that there may be a possibility to apply for incentive grants in
areas where patient organizations wanted best evidence for treatment e.g. British
Acoustic Neuroma Association (BANA) and Pituitary Association (Pit-Pat). Patient
involvement and review dissemination could be assisted by the charity and
published on the Cochrane Library.
(After the meeting Dr Grant was approached by Dr Marco Riva and Lorenzo Bello (It)
with a proposal for a title regarding extent of surgery in low grade glioma.)