Framework for a living systematic review and meta-analysis for the surgical treatment of bladder cancer: introducing EVIglance to urology

Victoria L S Wieland; Daniel Uysal; Pascal Probst; Maurizio Grilli; Caelán M Haney; Marie A Sidoti Abate; Luisa Egen; Manuel Neuberger; Giovanni E Cacciamani; Maximilian C Kriegmair; Maurice S Michel; Karl-Friedrich Kowalewski

doi:10.1097/SP9.0000000000000008

Framework for a living systematic review and meta-analysis for the surgical treatment of bladder cancer: introducing EVIglance to urology

Int J Surg Protoc. 2023 Sep 18;27(2):9-15. doi: 10.1097/SP9.0000000000000008. eCollection 2023 Oct.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Urology and Urologic Surgery, University Medical Center Mannheim.
² Department of Surgery, Cantonal Hospital Thurgau, Frauenfeld, Switzerland.
³ Library, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim.
⁴ Department of Urology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
⁵ Keck School of Medicine, Catherine and Joseph Aresty Department of Urology.
⁶ Artificial Intelligence (AI) Center at USC Urology, USC Institute of Urology, Los Angeles, California, USA.
⁷ Urological Hospital Munich-Planegg, Planegg.

Abstract

Background: Knowledge of current and ongoing studies is critical for identifying research gaps and enabling evidence-based decisions for individualized treatment. However, the increasing number of scientific publications poses challenges for healthcare providers and patients in all medical fields to stay updated with the latest evidence. To overcome these barriers, we aim to develop a living systematic review and open-access online evidence map of surgical therapy for bladder cancer (BC), including meta-analyses.

Methods: Following the guidelines provided in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Statement, a systematic literature search on uro-oncological therapy in BC will be performed across various literature databases. Within the scope of a meta-analysis and living systematic review, relevant randomized controlled trials will be identified. Data extraction and quantitative analysis will be conducted, along with a critical appraisal of the quality and risk of bias of each study. The available research evidence will be entered into an open-access framework (www.evidencemap.surgery) and will also be accessible via the EVIglance app. Regular semi-automatic updates will enable the implementation of a real-living review concept and facilitate resource-efficient screening.

Discussion: A regularly updated evidence map provides professionals and patients with an open-access knowledge base on the current state of research, allowing for decision-making based on recent evidence. It will help identify an oversupply of evidence, thus avoiding redundant work. Furthermore, by identifying research gaps, new hypotheses can be formulated more precisely, enabling planning, determination of sample size, and definition of endpoints for future trials.

Keywords: bladder cancer; evidence-based medicine; living evidence; living systematic reviews; meta-analysis; urologic surgery.