Germline Variants in Cancer Predisposition Genes in Pediatric Patients with Central Nervous System Tumors.

Central nervous system (CNS) tumors comprise around 20% of childhood malignancies. Germline variants in cancer predisposition genes (CPGs) are found in approximately 10% of pediatric patients with CNS tumors. This study aimed to characterize variants in CPGs in pediatric patients with CNS tumors and correlate these findings with clinically relevant data.

What did COVID-19 pandemics teach us about single-fraction radiotherapy for painful bone metastases-State of the art or undertreatment?

Background: Choosing the optimal treatment approach for patients with painful bone metastases during the COVID-19 pandemic became challenging. A simple technique, single fraction radiotherapy was recommended for these patients usually referring to bone metastases as a single entity, although it is a very heterogeneous group of patients.

Aim: This study aimed to analyze the response to palliative single fraction radiotherapy in relation to age, performance status, primary tumor, histopathology, and bone localization in the group of patients with painful bone metastases.

Total diagnostic interval in children with brain tumours in a middle-income country: national experience from Serbia.

Purpose: The aim was to evaluate the total diagnostic interval (TDI) and presenting complaints in children with brain tumours in Serbia.

Methods: This study retrospectively analysed 212 children aged 0-18 years newly diagnosed with brain tumours in two tertiary centres from mid-March 2015 to mid-March 2020 covering virtually all children with brain tumours in Serbia. TDI was calculated as the difference between the date of diagnosis and the date of symptom onset presented as a median in weeks.

Clinical Profile and Outcome of 806 Pediatric Oncology Patients Treated With Radiotherapy at the Serbian National Cancer Center.

Radiotherapy plays an important role in the multimodal treatment of childhood cancer. Our objective was to provide an analysis of pediatric oncology patients treated with radiotherapy in a national referral institution in Serbia. A retrospective chart review of children treated with radiotherapy between January 2007 and July 2018 was conducted.

Evaluation of In Vitro Cytotoxic Potential of Avarol towards Human Cancer Cell Lines and In Vivo Antitumor Activity in Solid Tumor Models.

The goal of this study was to determine the activity in vitro and in vivo of avarol, a sesquiterpene hydroquinone originating from the sponge from the south Adriatic Sea, against different cancer cell lines and two types of mouse carcinoma. To investigate the in vitro cytotoxicity, a human cervix adenocarcinoma cell line (HeLa), human colon adenocarcinoma (LS174), human non-small-cell lung carcinoma (A549), and a normal human fetal lung fibroblast cell line (MRC-5) were used. The in vivo antitumor activity was investigated against two transplantable mouse tumors, the Ehrlich carcinoma (EC) and cervical cancer (CC-5).

Association of polymorphisms in TGFB1, XRCC1, XRCC3 genes and CD8 T-lymphocyte apoptosis with adverse effect of radiotherapy for prostate cancer.

The genetic background of each person might affect the severity of radiotherapy (RT)-induced normal tissue toxicity. The aim of study was to evaluate the influence of TGFB1 C-509T and Leu10Pro, XRCC1 Arg280His and XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphisms as well as the level of radiation-induced CD8 T-lymphocyte apoptosis (RILA) on adverse effects of RT for prostate cancer (PCa). The study included 88 patients with localized or locally advanced PCa who were treated with RT.

Circulating levels of IL-6 and TGF-β1 in patients with prostate cancer undergoing radiotherapy: associations with acute radiotoxicity and fatigue symptoms.

Background: The goal of research was to investigate the possible relations between serum concentrations of IL-6 and TGF-β1, individual and clinical characteristics, and adverse effects of radiotherapy in patients with prostate cancer: acute and late genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicity, and fatigue.

Methods: Thirty-nine patients with localized or locally advanced prostate cancer who were treated with radiotherapy were enrolled in this study. The acute radiotoxicity grades and fatigue levels were assessed during the radiotherapy and 1 month after the radiotherapy.

Association between microRNAs 10b/21/34a and acute toxicity in glioblastoma patients treated with radiotherapy and temozolomide.

A personalized approach to chemoradiation is important in reducing its potential side effects and identifying a group of patients prone to toxicity. MicroRNAs have been shown to have a predictive potential for radiotoxicity. The goal of the study was to test if levels of miRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of glioblastoma patients are associated with toxicity and to identify the peak time point for toxicity.

Clinical profile, treatment and outcome of pediatric brain tumors in Serbia in a 10-year period: A national referral institution experience.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of children with primary brain tumors, the effectiveness of treatment modalities, and to detect factors related to the outcome.

Methods: A detailed analysis was performed on a series of 173 pediatric patients treated in a Serbian referral oncology institution between 2007 and 2016, based on their clinical, histological, treatment, and follow-up data.

Results: Mean survival time of all children was 94.

Clinical analysis of COVID-19 positive cancer inpatients in National Cancer Center in Serbia.

Introduction: The outbreak of COVID-19 has had an impact on global healthcare as well as on radiotherapy practice in many countries. This study aimed to identify clinical characteristics of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) infected cancer inpatients, as well as what impact this infection had on radiation treatment of the patients.

Methodology: In this retrospective study, we included cancer inpatients with laboratory confirmed COVID-19 infection during the radiotherapy or chemoradiation in April 2020 in National Cancer Research Center in Serbia.

MicroRNAs in Prostate Cancer Following Radiotherapy: Towards Predicting Response to Radiation Treatment.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most frequently diagnosed male cancer worldwide. Early diagnosis of PCa, response to therapy, and prognosis still represent a challenge. Nearly 60% of PCa patients undergo radiation therapy (RT) which might cause side effects.

Evaluation of Cyclin D1 expression by western blotting methods and immunohistochemistry in breast cancer patients.

Purpose: Considering that cyclin D1 had a prognostic and clinical value for breast cancer patients, adequate measurement of cyclin D1 is necessary.

Methods: In this investigation, we detect cyclin D1 expression in tumour and peritumoral tissue of breast cancer patients by Western blotting method and by immunohistochemistry.

Results: Cyclin D1 expression decreased significantly with each advanced clinical stage of disease and tumour size.

Polymorphisms in Genes Encoding Glutathione Transferase Pi and Glutathione Transferase Omega Influence Prostate Cancer Risk and Prognosis.

Considering the pleiotropic roles of glutathione transferase (GST) omega class members in redox homeostasis, we hypothesized that polymorphisms in and might contribute to prostate cancer (PC) development and progression. Therefore, we performed a comprehensive analysis of and SNPs' role in susceptibility to PC, as well as whether they might serve as prognostic biomarkers independently or in conjunction with other common GST polymorphisms (, , and ). Genotyping was performed in 237 PC cases and 236 age-matched controls by multiplex PCR for deletion of GST polymorphisms and quantitative PCR for SNPs.

Prevalence of burnout among healthcare professionals at the Serbian National Cancer Center.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the level of burnout and identify who is at highest risk among healthcare professionals (HCPs) working at the largest referent national institution.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at the Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia from May 2019 to July 2019, evaluating the level of burnout, depression, fatigue, socio-demographic, behavioral and professional characteristics, and quality of life among healthcare professionals. Of the 576 distributed questionnaires among physicians, nurses/technicians and healthcare coworkers, 432 participants returned their questionnaires (75%).

Long-lasting Thrombocytopenia after Transient Pancytopenia Induced by Short-Term Concomitant Radiotherapy and Temozolomide.

Unlabelled: We describe long-lasting and incompletely resolved thrombocytopenia after transient profound pancytopenia in a 62-year-old female patient with glioblastoma after short-term radiotherapy with temozolomide. Pancytopenia was present for more than 4 weeks and thrombocytopenia for more than 6 months, without platelet recovery to normal levels.

Learning Points: Some patients may experience severe haematological manifestations after even short-term radiotherapy with temozolomide.

Travel burden and clinical presentation of retinoblastoma: analysis of 1024 patients from 43 African countries and 518 patients from 40 European countries.

Background: The travel distance from home to a treatment centre, which may impact the stage at diagnosis, has not been investigated for retinoblastoma, the most common childhood eye cancer. We aimed to investigate the travel burden and its impact on clinical presentation in a large sample of patients with retinoblastoma from Africa and Europe.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis including 518 treatment-naïve patients with retinoblastoma residing in 40 European countries and 1024 treatment-naïve patients with retinoblastoma residing in 43 African countries.

Post-treatment FDG PET/CT predicts progression-free survival in young patients with small round blue cell tumors: Ewing sarcoma and PNET.

Purpose: To determine if post-treatment F-18 FDG PET/CT results (overall positive findings, specific localizations) are independent predictors of disease progression in young patients with Ewing sarcoma and Primitive neuroectodermal tumor.

Method: A consecutive sample of 48 patients (age 14 ± 5 years, 32 male) was referred to F-18 FDG PET/CT for the suspected progression of Ewing sarcoma (39 patients) and Primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) (9 patients) and followed-up clinically for 4.3 ± 2.

rs1138272 Polymorphism Affects Prostate Cancer Risk.

: One of the most frequent genetic alterations reported to date in prostate cancer (PC) is aberrant methylation of glutathione transferase P1 (). Taking into consideration the involvement of oxidative stress in PC pathogenesis and recent advances in scientific understanding of the role of Ala114Val rs1138272 polymorphism in carcinogenesis, we hypothesized that this single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) influences the risk of PC independently of, or in combination with, other GST polymorphisms, including IIe105Val rs1695 or and deletion polymorphisms. : Genotyping was performed in 237 PC cases and in 236 age-matched controls by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for deletion of GST polymorphisms and by quantitative PCR for SNPs.

Global Retinoblastoma Presentation and Analysis by National Income Level.

Importance: Early diagnosis of retinoblastoma, the most common intraocular cancer, can save both a child's life and vision. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that many children across the world are diagnosed late. To our knowledge, the clinical presentation of retinoblastoma has never been assessed on a global scale.

Assessment of health-related quality of life among parents of children with solid tumors in Serbia.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and contributing factors among parents of children with solid tumors in Serbia.

Methods: The cross-sectional study included 51 parents of children treated for different solid tumors at the Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia. Parents filled out validated Serbian version of SF-36 questionnaire.

Treatment results of childhood Ewing's sarcoma of the bone in Serbia.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to present treatment results of childhood Ewing's sarcoma (ES) of the bone in Serbia and to analyze prognostic factors.

Methods: We performed a detailed analysis on a series of 107 patients with ES of the bone treated at the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia between 2000 and 2014, using modern multimodal therapy.

Results: Median age at the time of diagnosis was 14 years, with 56.

Association between miR-21/146a/155 level changes and acute genitourinary radiotoxicity in prostate cancer patients: A pilot study.

Introduction: Nearly sixty percent of patients with prostate cancer (PCa) undergo radiation therapy (RT). During the course of treatment patients may experience normal tissue reactions. It is a well established fact that genetic and epigenetic mechanisms, such as microRNA (miRNA) level changes might be associated with radiotoxicity, as a response to irradiation.

Management and treatment of children with medulloblastoma in Serbia, a middle-income country.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to present the management and treatment of children with medulloblastoma in Serbia, a middle-income country (MIC).

Methods: The data of 87 children diagnosed with medulloblastoma and treated at the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia from 2000 to 2013 were analyzed.

Results: The children's median age was 8.