Congress of Neurological Surgeons systematic review and evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of adults with progressive glioblastoma update: introduction and methods

Abstract

Introduction The management of glioblastoma at the time of progression is an important facet of all physicians involved in neuro-oncology. This is an update of the evidence-based guidelines for management of progressive glioblastoma published by the Congress of Neurological Surgeons and American Association of Neurological Surgeons in 2014.Methods The medical literature from July 1, 2012 through March 31, 2019 was searched in MEDLINE® and Embase® and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Controlled Trials Registry, and Cochrane Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects to determine if information was available to update, modify or create new recommendations related to imaging, cytoreductive surgery, neuropathology, radiotherapy, cytotoxic chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.Results The writing group utilized the information from the updated literature search to formulate recommendations that were exclusively evidence based and not founded on potentially biased consensus or expert opinion.Conclusion The series of guideline documents provides an update of the information and recommendations that could be derived in the 2014 version. It sets a benchmark as to what we really know about the management of this difficult disease. It also provides clues to key investigations that are necessary to move us toward truly effective disease control.