The development of neuro-oncology reviews has been necessitated by the improving quality of evidence based neuro-oncology research and treatment and a plethora of new reviews published on the Cochrane Library. The Gynaecological Cancer and Orphan Group provides a focal point to facilitate a coherent network to publish and locate neuro-oncology reviews.  This also has the benefit of highlighting which reviews have not yet been undertaken and which areas would benefit from a systematic review. The Co-ordinating Editors for this topic area are Robin Grant and Mike Hart. 

  
                 Robin Grant                                      Mike Hart

Robin is a Consultant Neurologist at the Edinburgh Centre for neuro-oncology (ECNO) which is based within the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK.  ECNO provides a base for administrative and clinical integration of staff from Neurology, Neurosurgery and Oncology who have a particular interest in neuro-oncology.  Robin is the Past President of the European Association of Neuro-oncology. Mike Hart is a Specialty Trainee in neuro-oncology at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK. 

They are both experienced Cochrane systematic reviewers and have been involved with the Group for over a decade.

Building on this requires furthering links with major neuro-oncology societies to promote methodological learning, education and publication of neuro-oncology reviews.  All authors of Cochrane systematic reviews have access to training and support resources from the Cochrane Collaboration.  Detailed information regarding training is available via the following links, Cochrane Training. We encourage potential authors to consider the strength of evidence for specific questions in neuro-oncology and if appropriate, where randomized controlled trials have been performed, to consider whether these meet the strict methodological criteria for inclusion in a Cochrane systematic review.

Neuro-oncology relevant reviews are somewhat dispersed in different Cochrane Groups where neuro-oncology articles may not be that obvious to the Cochrane Library user. In addition to the Gynaecological Cancer and Orphan Group, there are relevant neuro-oncology reviews published in the Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care Group, Cochrane Epilepsy Group, Depression, Anxiety and Neurosis Group, Neuromuscular Diseases Group, Lung Cancer Group, Back Group, Childhood Cancer Group and several others.

For the Cochrane neuro-oncology review list click here.

For further information on conducting a Cochrane systematic review in neuro-oncology please contact cochrane-gyncan@ruh-bath.swest.nhs.uk