This Paper was presented at the ICCCPO annual meeting in Oslo, 2004.

In the second half of the last century, clinical trials led to major developments in pediatric oncology. Approximately 600 randomised trials have been performed together with many non-randomised controlled trials. Healthcare providers in pediatric oncology face a serious challenge to keep up-to-date with the latest evidence. Research is being published every day, all over the world. Scientific summaries of evidence, systematic reviews, can help healthcare providers to keep well informed.

In 2004, the Emma Children's Hospital of the Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam, the Cochrane Cancer Network and the Dutch Cochrane Centre initiated the set-up of a Cochrane  Childhood Cancer Review Group (ChCRG) The Cochrane Childhood Cancer Review Group will form one of the Collaborative review groups within the Cochrane Collaboration. This review group will support the production and dissemination of systematic reviews on the effects of interventions in children with cancer concerning: prevention, treatment, supportive care, psychosocial care, palliative and terminal care, nursing care and late effects of treatment. A Cochrane review group focusing on systematic reviews in childhood cancer was lacking. Official registration of the possible Cochrane Childhood Cancer Review Group within the Cochrane Collaboration is expected in 2005.

The Cochrane Collaboration (www.cochrane.org) is an international non-profit organization, dedicated to produce up-to-date, accurate information about the effects of healthcare readily available worldwide. In 2004, more than 11,500 people were working within the Cochrane Collaboration in over 90 countries, half of whom are authors of Cochrane Reviews. Most do not receive a payment for their Cochrane work as they are committed to its purpose.

The main activity of the Collaboration is to develop Cochrane systematic reviews of the strongest evidence available. Clinicians, parents and patients can be assisted in making well informed decisions by using a systematic review. A Cochrane systematic review is a systematic, up-to-date summary of reliable evidence of the benefits and risks of healthcare interventions. The Cochrane systematic reviews are published electronically within the Cochrane Library www.thecochranelibrary.com) and are freely accessible in short versions.

On February 2nd 2004, 60 interested and enthusiastic people, including paediatric oncologists, nurses, methodologists, and parents of children with cancer from different countries attended the exploratory meeting of the Cochrane Childhood Cancer Review Group. International speakers highlighted several organisational aspects for the new review group, the need for systematic reviews for research and for clinical practice, and highlighted future directions of systematic reviews as a research discipline.

The main activities of the Cochrane Childhood Cancer Review Group will be:

-  to support the production and dissemination of  systematic reviews on the effects of  interventions in children with cancer

-  to maintain a register of existing clinical trials in children with cancer

-  to distribute knowledge making of well-informed decisions about interventions in children with cancer via website and courses.

Before the SIOP meeting in Vancouver, the Cochrane Childhood Cancer Review Group will organise a Cochrane systematic review course for future authors of reviews. Several reviewers are already active in performing a systematic review. More than 100 persons such as paediatric oncologists, nurses, methodologists, parents of children with cancer and survivors have shown interest in the group and are willing to contribute to systematic reviews in childhood cancer. Eighteen people will form the editorial board: M. Bernstein; G. Bisogno; B. de Camargo; H. Caron; F. Doz; T. Eden; C. Eiser; F. Gibson; N. Graf; L. Kremer; P. Kurkure; N. Langeveld; S. Lipshultz; D. Moher; R. Pieters; R. Pinkerton; M. Stevens; M. van de Wetering. 

Involvement of parents, patients and survivors in the Cochrane Childhood Cancer Review Group will be really important to stimulate systematic reviews relevant for patients and to produce clear summaries of systematic reviews! If you would like to have more information or if you would like to participate in this new development please contact Chcrg@amc.uva.nl