Browsing by Author "Bokun, Jelena (6507641875)"

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. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted to identify predictors of total score of SF-36. Results: Almost all parents (94.1%) were mothers and average age was 38.6 ± 6.7 years. Majority of children had brain tumors (43.1%), followed by bone tumors (37.3%). The hierarchical regression analysis showed that socio-demographic characteristics explained 26% of the variance (p > 0.05) of the total score of SF-36. Addition of quality of life of children assessed by parents in the second model caused an increase of 21% in the variance explained (p < 0.05). After adding the Beck Depression Inventory score in the third block, an additional 18% of the variance in total score was explained (p < 0.05). Conclusions: This study showed that HRQoL measured by SF-36 in parents of children with cancer is strongly influenced by depression and quality of life of children assessed by parents. © 2020, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

Background: Medulloblastoma has one of the highest rates of metastasis outside the central nervous system (CNS). Bone metastases are the most common lesions, although lymph node and visceral spread have also been reported. Objective: To present patients with bone metastasis in medulloblastoma and discuss their radiologic appearances and treatment approach. Patients and methods: From 1993 to 2008, 82 patients diagnosed with medulloblastoma were treated at the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia. Three (3.6%) developed extraneural metastasis (ENM). In primary treatment, patients were treated with surgery, craniospinal radiotherapy with local boost to tumor bed, and adjuvant chemotherapy 'lomustine (CCNU) and vincristine'. Of the three patients with ENM, all developed bone metastases at the time of relapse. Relapse occurred within 17 to 42 months of initial diagnosis. Patients received secondary chemotherapy and palliative radiotherapy to the affected bone in two cases. Results: Among these three patients, case 1 had initially a solitary lytic lesion. Case 2 had diffuse blastic lesions and also bone marrow involvement. Case 3 had multiple mixed lytic-sclerotic lesions but later developed lymph node metastasis and metastases to both breasts, as well. All patients were without concurrent CNS involvement at the time of ENM. Unfortunately, after initial partial response, the three patients died at 24, 13, and 18 months after detection of metastases, respectively. Conclusion: With prolonged survival times in children with medulloblastoma, more emphasis should be placed on the possibility of systemic involvement. A greater understanding of the pathogenesis of the systemic metastases may be valuable in designing future, more aggressive multimodal therapy. © 2013 Informa Healthcare USA, Inc.

Background: Intracranial germinomas (ICG) are uncommon brain neoplasms with extremely rare familial occurrence. Because ICG invades the hypothalamus and/or pituitary, endocrine dysfunction is one of the common determinants of these tumours. We present two brothers with a history of ICG. Patient 1 is a 25-year-old male who suffered from weakness of the right half of his body at the age of 18 years. Cranial MRI revealed a mass lesion in the left thalamus. He underwent neurosurgery, and the tumour was removed completely. Histopathological (HP) and immunohistochemical analyses verified the diagnosis of pure germinoma. He experienced complete remission of the tumour after radiation therapy. At the age of 22 years a diagnosis of isolated growth hormone deficiency (IGHD) was established and GH replacement was initiated. Molecular genetic analysis of the tumour tissue detected the mutation within exon 2 in KRAS gene. Patient 2 is a 20-year-old man who presented with diabetes insipidus at the age of 12 years. MRI detected tumour in the third ventricle and pineal region. After endoscopic tumour biopsy the HP diagnosis was pure germinoma. He received chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy and was treated with GH during childhood. At the age of 18 years GH replacement was reintroduced. A six-month follow-up during the subsequent two years in both brothers demonstrated the IGF1 normalisation with no MRI signs of tumour recurrence. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, so far only six reports have been published related to familial ICG. The presented two brothers are the first report of familial ICG case outside Japan. They have been treated successfully with GH therapy in adulthood. © 2018 Via Medica. All rights reserved.

Background: Intracranial germinomas (ICG) are uncommon brain neoplasms with extremely rare familial occurrence. Because ICG invades the hypothalamus and/or pituitary, endocrine dysfunction is one of the common determinants of these tumours. We present two brothers with a history of ICG. Patient 1 is a 25-year-old male who suffered from weakness of the right half of his body at the age of 18 years. Cranial MRI revealed a mass lesion in the left thalamus. He underwent neurosurgery, and the tumour was removed completely. Histopathological (HP) and immunohistochemical analyses verified the diagnosis of pure germinoma. He experienced complete remission of the tumour after radiation therapy. At the age of 22 years a diagnosis of isolated growth hormone deficiency (IGHD) was established and GH replacement was initiated. Molecular genetic analysis of the tumour tissue detected the mutation within exon 2 in KRAS gene. Patient 2 is a 20-year-old man who presented with diabetes insipidus at the age of 12 years. MRI detected tumour in the third ventricle and pineal region. After endoscopic tumour biopsy the HP diagnosis was pure germinoma. He received chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy and was treated with GH during childhood. At the age of 18 years GH replacement was reintroduced. A six-month follow-up during the subsequent two years in both brothers demonstrated the IGF1 normalisation with no MRI signs of tumour recurrence. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, so far only six reports have been published related to familial ICG. The presented two brothers are the first report of familial ICG case outside Japan. They have been treated successfully with GH therapy in adulthood. © 2018 Via Medica. All rights reserved.

Primary spinal cord germinomas are an extremely rare group of tumors, most commonly reported as single cases in young Japanese adults. They usually present as intramedullary lesions located in the thoracic and thoracolumbar spine. The importance of preoperative diagnosis lies in the fact that by using radiotherapy and chemotherapy, even without surgery, a good cure rate can be achieved in patients with spinal cord germinoma. These tumors, however, demonstrate unspecific imaging characteristics, and only some secrete tumor markers. Therefore, a diagnosis of these lesions before biopsy or resection with pathohistologic examination can be difficult. We present a case of a 28-year-old white man with intramedullary spinal cord germinoma. The tumor was resected completely with electrophysiological monitoring, without a biopsy and frozen section analysis. Postoperative radiotherapy also was part of the treatment. The patient has had no relapse 4.5 years after diagnosis; however, significant neurologic deficits remain. Although not as frequent in white patients, germinoma should be considered as differential diagnosis in cases of young adult patients with intramedullary tumor in the thoracic or thoracolumbar spine. Therefore, spinal mass surgery should commence with a biopsy and intraoperative frozen section analysis. In this way, attempting a gross total resection becomes unnecessary. With an approach of intraoperative biopsy and frozen section analysis, a considerable amount of postoperative neurologic deficits can be reduced. © 2016 Elsevier Inc.

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 8.3 years (range 2.5-17.3). Eighty-two (94.2%) were 3 years or older. Sixty-two (71.3%) patients had stage M0 medulloblastoma, 12 (13.8%) had stage M1 and 13 (14.9%) had stage M2 or M3. As of October 2015, 51 (58.6%) patients were alive and 31 (35.6%) had died. Five patients (5.7%) were lost to followup. Twenty-six patients relapsed. The median follow-up time was 58 months (range 4–187). Mean overall survival (OS) was 76.4% at 3 years, 66.2% at 5 years and 59.2% at 10 years. Mean disease-free survival (DFS) was 75.8% at 3 years, 62.8% at 5 years and 56.6% at 10 years. Mean OS of stage M0 patients was 86.4% at 3 years, 74% at 5 years and 63.1% at 10 years. The OS of stage M1, M2 and M3 patients combined was 48.9% at 3 years, 44.0% at 5 years and 37.7% at 10 years. Conclusion: In Serbia, a MIC, it is possible to achieve good treatment results in children with medulloblastoma using international treatment guidelines and recommendations, available resources and an experienced team of professionals dedicated to pediatric neurooncology. © 2018 Zerbinis Publications. All Rights Reserved.

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 8.3 years (range 2.5-17.3). Eighty-two (94.2%) were 3 years or older. Sixty-two (71.3%) patients had stage M0 medulloblastoma, 12 (13.8%) had stage M1 and 13 (14.9%) had stage M2 or M3. As of October 2015, 51 (58.6%) patients were alive and 31 (35.6%) had died. Five patients (5.7%) were lost to followup. Twenty-six patients relapsed. The median follow-up time was 58 months (range 4–187). Mean overall survival (OS) was 76.4% at 3 years, 66.2% at 5 years and 59.2% at 10 years. Mean disease-free survival (DFS) was 75.8% at 3 years, 62.8% at 5 years and 56.6% at 10 years. Mean OS of stage M0 patients was 86.4% at 3 years, 74% at 5 years and 63.1% at 10 years. The OS of stage M1, M2 and M3 patients combined was 48.9% at 3 years, 44.0% at 5 years and 37.7% at 10 years. Conclusion: In Serbia, a MIC, it is possible to achieve good treatment results in children with medulloblastoma using international treatment guidelines and recommendations, available resources and an experienced team of professionals dedicated to pediatric neurooncology. © 2018 Zerbinis Publications. All Rights Reserved.

Proton beam therapy (PBT) is an advanced type of radiotherapy that shows a dosimetric advantage over photon beam therapy and provides superior dose distribution. PBT may improve patient survival by improving the local disease control while reducing toxicity to normal organs, which may result in fewer treatment-related complications. During the last decade, technological progress has opened up new possibilities in the planning and conducting of PBT, so indications have gradually expanded to different cancers. However, many biological aspects of PBT are still unclear, and its role in clinical settings is con-troversial. Proton therapy is considered to be safe and effective for different types of pediatric cancers, and suitable in treatment of ocular melanomas, chordomas, and chondrosarcomas. Future research and more prospective clinical studies with long-term follow-up are required in order to clearly determine the benefits and proper indications for PBT. © 2021, Serbia Medical Society. All rights reserved.

Objectives: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a rare malignancy in children. The aim of this study was to provide analysis of children with nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated in a single institution. Methods and materials: Between 1999 and 2016, fourteen pediatric patients with a diagnosis of undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma were treated in our institution, and the patients’ clinical characteristics, treatment modality, outcome, and toxicity were analyzed. Results: The median age at diagnosis was 15,5 years. The gender ratio was 1:1. The majority of patients had regionally and/or locally advanced tumors and one had bone metastases at the time of diagnosis. All patients received chemotherapy before radiotherapy, with partial response in thirteen patients and complete response in one. Radiation dose to the primary tumor and involved cervical lymph nodes was 55–60 Gy, uninvolved cervical and supraclavicular regions received prophylactic radiation with dose of 45–50 Gy. Ten patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. Three-year progression-free rate and three-year overall survival (OS) rates were 75% and 73% respectively. Five-year progression-free rate was 65% and OS 63% respectively, and after ten years progression-free rate and OS remained the same. At the end of follow-up period, ten patients were alive, and four died. All of the patients that had distant metastases died. Most common late complications were skin fibrosis and xerostomia. Conclusions: Multimodal therapy of children with nasopharyngeal carcinoma is associated with long-term survival. It is expected that further advances in the management of these patients, with improved radiotherapy and chemotherapy, will reduce acute and late toxicity and improve quality of life of treated children. © 2018

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 56.07% of the patients being =14 years. There was a male predominance (59.81%). The most common primary sites were pelvis (25.23%), femur (17.76%) and tibia (12.15%). Thirty-four patients (31.78%) had metastatic disease, 17 of which had isolated lung metastases, 9 bone metastases and 8 patients had both. Tumor size = 8 cm had 38.32% and >8 cm had 61.68% patients. Overall, 51.4% patients underwent surgery and radiotherapy as a local treatment modality after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Radiotherapy alone was performed in 24 patients. The 5-year overall survival (OS) was 43.8%. For patients with localized disease, the 5-year OS was 56.4% and for patients with metastatic disease 17.6%. In patients with initially nonmetastatic disease, age under 14 years, with tumor size <8 cm and a good response to the neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the OS correlated with better outcome. Conclusions: Modern multidisciplinary approach in treatment of childhood ES of the bone in accordance with the recommended pediatric protocols, gives good treatment results. Therapy should be performed in referral centers. © 2018 Zerbinis Publications. All Rights Reserved.

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 56.07% of the patients being =14 years. There was a male predominance (59.81%). The most common primary sites were pelvis (25.23%), femur (17.76%) and tibia (12.15%). Thirty-four patients (31.78%) had metastatic disease, 17 of which had isolated lung metastases, 9 bone metastases and 8 patients had both. Tumor size = 8 cm had 38.32% and >8 cm had 61.68% patients. Overall, 51.4% patients underwent surgery and radiotherapy as a local treatment modality after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Radiotherapy alone was performed in 24 patients. The 5-year overall survival (OS) was 43.8%. For patients with localized disease, the 5-year OS was 56.4% and for patients with metastatic disease 17.6%. In patients with initially nonmetastatic disease, age under 14 years, with tumor size <8 cm and a good response to the neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the OS correlated with better outcome. Conclusions: Modern multidisciplinary approach in treatment of childhood ES of the bone in accordance with the recommended pediatric protocols, gives good treatment results. Therapy should be performed in referral centers. © 2018 Zerbinis Publications. All Rights Reserved.