title: An overview of neuro-oncology research and practice in Iran, three years with the NOSC initiative.
abstract: Research and practice of neuro-oncology compiles clinical neuroscience expertise from neurosurgery, radiation oncology, neuroradiology, medical oncology, neuropathology and related disciplines to optimize planning and therapy in central nervous system malignancies. Such an interdisciplinary context prompted health-care providers from all related disciplines to establish the Neuro-Oncology Scientific Club (NOSC) in Iran and let it flourish since 3 years ago. With the advent of advanced technologies and through continued share of experience, NOSC members have tried to provide more integrated diagnoses and therapeutic care to brain tumor patients across the country. NOSC activities revolve around some key tenets including dissemination of education and updates, facilitation of institutional collaborations; data registry and patients' awareness. By virtue of recent insights on molecular characterization of brain tumors such as codeletion of chromosomes 1p and 19q in anaplastic gliomas and O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation in glioblastoma, a range of translational research is being followed within NOSC. The most recent NOSC meeting which was held in Tehran, recapitulated main advances and dealt with the current debates on functional neurosurgery, biological markers and neuroimaging, risk prediction models in high grade gliomas and clinical issues in pediatric neuro-oncology. This article gives an overview of current hotspots in neuro-oncology research and practice which are pursued within NOSC.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Institute, Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Peiman
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Haddad
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Sohrab
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shazadi
authors.affiliation: Cancer Institute, Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Farhad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Samiei
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Homayoun Hadizadeh
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Kharrazi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Morteza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tabatabaeefar
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Afshin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rakhsha
authors.affiliation: MAHAK Pediatric Cancer Treatment and Research Center (MPCTRC) Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faranoosh
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Shiraz, Iran ; Behphar Scientific Committee Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torabi-Nami
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (I.B.B.), University of Tehran Tehran, Iran ; Behphar Scientific Committee Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dadras
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (I.B.B.), University of Tehran Tehran, Iran ; Behphar Scientific Committee Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Atieh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liaghi
authors.affiliation: Behphar Scientific Committee Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nafarieh
keywords: Interdisciplinary; Iran; NOSC; brain tumors; neuro-oncology