Publications by authors named "Vojin Vukovic"

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare, lifethreatening hyperinflammatory disorder characterized by dysfunction of NK cells and cytotoxic lymphocytes. We present a rare case of a patient diagnosed with HLH who presented with persistent fever during treatment for refractory T-cell/histiocyte-rich large B-cell lymphoma (TCHRLBCL), highlighting the challenges of managing HLH in the context of refractory lymphoma. According to our review of the literature, this is the first case of HLH that developed several months into treatment for refractory TCHRLBCL and not in close temporal relation to lymphoma diagnosis.

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Chronic inflammation has been identified in leukemias as an essential regulator of angiogenesis. B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells secrete high levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF1α). The aim was to assess the role of inflammation in activation of angiogenic factors: endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), HIF1α and VEGF via proliferation related signaling pathways and VEGF autocrine control.

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The occurrence of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) that evolve into each other is well-described, as is this occurrence of lymphoproliferative neoplasms (LPNs). However, less is known about rare MPN/LPN coexistence, and the aim of our study was to analyze charachteristics of these patients after long term follow-up. Fourteen patients with MPN/LPN coexistence were diagnosed and treated according to guidelines at a single university center across two decades.

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Dysregulated expression of the long non-coding RNA MALAT1 has been implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of a variety of cancers, including hematological malignancies, but it has been poorly investigated in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). In this study, the expression of MALAT1 was measured using a quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 114 unselected, newly diagnosed CLL patients in order to analyze its association with clinical, laboratory, and molecular patients' characteristics at diagnosis, as well as its prognostic relevance. MALAT1 was found to be upregulated in CLL patients in comparison to healthy controls, and expression levels were not related to age, leukocyte, lymphocyte and platelet count, serum β2-microglobulin, and somatic hypermutational status.

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Article Synopsis
  • Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have a significantly heightened risk of developing other malignancies (OMs), with a study tracking nearly 20,000 CLL patients revealing 3,513 OMs diagnosed over 129,254 years of follow-up.
  • The study found that treatment with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide increased the likelihood of developing myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML), while non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) and prostate cancer were common solid tumors in treated patients.
  • Importantly, patients with CLL who developed OMs had lower overall survival rates, especially those diagnosed with AML and MDS, highlighting that C
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Introduction: The B-cell lymphoma/leukaemia 11A (BCL11A) gene encodes a Krüppel-like transcription factor involved in lymphocyte development during normal haematopoiesis. Aberrant expression of BCL11A has been observed in several haematological malignancies, including chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). However, its functions in the regulatory networks of malignant B lymphocytes are poorly understood, as are the relations to clinical course and outcome of B-cell malignancies, particularly CLL.

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Background: Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) may be more susceptible to COVID-19 related poor outcomes, including thrombosis and death, due to the advanced age, the presence of comorbidities, and the disease and treatment-related immune deficiency. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of thrombosis and bleeding in patients with CLL affected by severe COVID-19.

Methods: This is a retrospective multicenter study conducted by ERIC, the European Research Initiative on CLL, including patients from 79 centers across 22 countries.

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Background: Lymphomas are characterized by elevated synthesis of inflammatory soluble mediators that could trigger the development of venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, data on the relationship between specific immune dysregulation and VTE occurrence in patients with lymphoma are scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the association between inflammatory markers and the risk of VTE development in patients with lymphoma.

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Fludarabine plus cyclophosphamide (FC) chemotherapy is the basis of treatment protocols used in management of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). In some patients, response to therapy may be affected by aberrant function of genes involved in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the drugs. The aim of this research was to assess the impact of pharmacogenetic variability, namely expression of SLC28A3 gene and the presence of CYP2B6*6 variant allele, on the FC treatment efficacy.

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Introduction: Vitamin D has a role in cellular differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis and therefore is studied as a prognostic factor in cancer. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence and significance of 25(OH)D deficiency in patients with lymphoid malignancies.

Methodology: Between January 2014 and June 2016 at the Clinic for Hematology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, the pretreatment serum level of 25(OH)D was determined in 133 (62 women/71 men, median age 58 (18-84) years) previously untreated patients with lymphoid malignancy using a chemiluminescent immunoassay.

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The prognostic value of the International Prognostic Index (IPI) has been re-evaluated in the rituximab-treated diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients. Accordingly, National Comprehensive Cancer Network-IPI (NCCN-IPI) has been introduced to estimate prognosis of DLBCL patients. However, comorbidities that frequently affect elderly DLBCL patients were not analyzed.

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Venous thromboembolic events (VTE) are an underestimated health problem in patients with lymphoma. Many factors contribute to the pathogenesis of thromboembolism and the interplay between various mechanisms that provoke VTE is still poorly understood. The identification of parameters that are associated with an increased risk of VTE in lymphoma patients led to the creation of several risk-assessment models.

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Introduction: Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) comprises a variety of lymphoid and plasma cell disorders arising in patients with a solid organ transplant. Monomorphic lymphomas represent the most significant part of this wide spectrum, with the overall risk rising with the aggressiveness of lymphoid proliferation in comparison to the general population. The development of Hodgkin lymphoma is very rare in transplant recipients, comprising less than 6% of all monomorphic PTLD, while cases of primary intestinal Hodgkin lymphoma in these circumstances are anecdotal.

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The Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) is widely used in the identification of risk groups among follicular lymphoma (FL) patients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic value of FLIPI combined with the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) and histological grade of lymphoma. 224 newly diagnosed FL patients (median age 56 years) treated with immunochemotherapy were retrospectively analysed.

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8p11 myeloproliferative syndrome (EMS) is a very rare clinicopathological entity which is characterized by the appearance of a myeloproliferative neoplasm in the bone marrow, peripheral lymphadenopathy, usually caused by T or B lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia, and a reciprocal translocation involving chromosome 8p11. Herein we describe a 22-year-old male patient with unusual clinical presentation of EMS. Namely, he initially presented with prolonged epistaxis.

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Lymphoma patients are at increased risk of thromboembolic events but thromboprophylaxis in these patients is largely underused. We sought to develop and validate a simple model, based on individual clinical and laboratory patient characteristics that would designate lymphoma patients at risk for thromboembolic event. The study population included 1,820 lymphoma patients who were treated in the Lymphoma Departments at the Clinics of Hematology, Clinical Center of Serbia and Clinical Center Kragujevac.

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Background And Methods: The aim of the study was to evaluate retrospectively clinical course of 27 patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) diagnosed and treated by different surgical approaches. Initial therapy-diagnostic approach included surgery with total tumour reduction (TTR) performed in 12 patients (44.4%), while partial reduction and biopsy were performed in 8 (29.

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Background: Consideration of comorbidity, disability, and frailty represents a significant part of the treatment of elderly multiple myeloma (MM) patients. The aim of study was to analyze the effect of the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and scale of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) on the course of disease.

Patients And Methods: The study included 110 newly diagnosed MM patients older than 65 years of age.

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Background: Primary testicular lymphoma (PTL) is a rare and highly aggressive extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Patients And Methods: We evaluated the clinical and histopathological features and outcomes of 10 PTL patients treated in the period of 2003-2013 with multimodal therapy (rituximab, CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone), intrathecal prophylaxis, irradiation of the contralateral testis) following orchiectomy.

Results: Complete remission was achieved in 8 patients after first-line therapy while 2 patients had disease progression.

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