stepupiors

STEPUPIORS Project members Dr Ana Djuric, Dr Milena Cavic, Dr Meike de Wit, Dr Paul van der Leest, Denise van Steijn and Dr Remond Fijneman participated at the “ctDNA International Symposium 2026 Circulating Tumor DNA in Cancer: From Biology to Clinical Practice and Beyond” held on May 21 – 22, 2026 in Aarhus, Denmark, organized by Lars Dyrskjøt and Claus Lindbjerg Andersen from the  Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University. During these 2 days, latest advances in the field of circulating tumor DNA — from technological innovations and biological insights to clinical applications and future perspectives were discussed, with the aim to transform healthcare standards and deliver tangible benefits to patients. Project results were presented and discussed during lectures and active poster sessions and networking activities, comparing national liquid biopsy practices across Europe.

Dr Ana Djuric and Dr Milena Cavic also performed a visit to the Department of Molecular Medicine of the Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, kindly hosted by Dr Claus Lindbjerg Andersen, in preparation for new joint project applications.

The third Open Day dedicated to colorectal cancer was held on April 29, 2026 at the Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, organized in collaboration with the Genetic Counseling Department for Hereditary Cancer of IORS.

The event brought together patients, patient associations, family members, healthcare workers and scientists to emphasize the importance of prevention and early diagnosis. Project members – physicians Jelena Spasic and Milan Kocic and scientists Marija Đorđić Crnogorac Valentina Karadžić and Milena Cavic presented the capacities and projects of the Institute. Patients and patient representatives conveyed their questions and experience. As a conclusion, it was proposed to organize more similar events in several cities of Serbia in order for the useful information to reach all our citizens.

Information on genetic testing of hereditary cancer syndromes associated with colorectal cancer at IORS can be obtained by direct e-mail contact at: geneticko.savetovanje.iors@ncrc.ac.rs or phone numbers +381112067283 and +381112067284.

Up to date topics on the concept of TNT in the treatment of rectal cancer, cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC, surgery of liver metastases, oncovascular surgery and the role of liquid biopsy in the treatment of colorectal cancer were discussed with surgical oncologists from various Serbian centers, comparing good practices and moving the field forward towards more precise personalization of oncological treatment. The role of surgeons in the process was found to be crucial for the introduction of modern techniques and proper workflow within Serbian hospital multidisciplinary tumor boards.

Dr Ana Djuric and Dr Milena Cavic participated in a two-day Study Visit in Prague on February 9-10, 2026, organized by the WiderAdvance Facility EU Project for researchers and research management professionals from Widening countries across Europe. The event brought together representatives from Widening countries to familiarize them with the Czech innovation ecosystem and to connect them with the widerAdvance Facility project and its services to improve the exploitation of STEPUPIORS project results.  The visit started with a study tour of the National Library of Technology, followed by a visit to the Charles University.

On 11 February, 2026, Dr Djuric and Dr Cavic continued the visit by participating in a Mutual Learning Event. The goal was to explore how organisations from Widening countries can strengthen their valorisation capacity by unlocking complementary funding opportunities.

https://www.wideradvance.eu/

The aim of the event is to raise awareness about colorectal cancer and the possible hereditary basis of this disease, as well as prevention, early diagnosis and available therapies. The meeting is dedicated primarily to individuals with colorectal cancer and their family members, but also to the wider community that wants to be informed about genetic testing of hereditary cancer syndromes associated with colorectal cancer.

On February 3, 2026, Dr Milena Cavic from IORS and Dr Remond Fijneman from the NKI participated as speakers at the 2026 Twinning forum in Serbia enhancing national strategies for participation in widening schemes. Dr Cavic presented STEPUPIORS insights into the necessary balance between research and coordination/support activities in Twinning projects. Dr Fijneman elaborated on benefits of strategic collaboration on a Twinning project within the “WIN-WIN is important: Benefits for leading partners from the EU” session. The meeting was organized under the auspices of the European Training agency SAIGE forum focused on the pending WIDERA Work Programme for 2026/27.

Long term impact and sustainability of our STEPUPIORS project surpass the official project end – the talented PhD student Xavi Dominguez-Rovira defended his PhD thesis mentored by Laia Bonjoch and Sergi Castellvi-Bel at FRCB-IDIBAPS. He was actively involved in project activities and presented his results at main consortium meetings during 2023-2025.

His thesis presents a multi-step approach for the postulation of HIC1 and TP53BP1 as candidate genes associated with germline predisposition to serrated polyposis syndrome (SPS). SPS patients, both with and without familial aggregation, were recruited into discovery and validation cohorts. Next-generation and panel sequencing were performed to identify germline pathogenic genetic variants, followed by a bioinformatics pipeline to prioritize the most relevant variants. CRISPR/Cas9 technology was used to model the identified genetic variants in several in vitro systems. These in vitro models were subsequently employed to conduct gene-specific functional assays to determine the effects of the genetic variants on RNA expression, protein function, and cellular processes. All data were integrated to support the candidacy of HIC1 and TP53BP1 as genes associated with germline predisposition to SPS.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ijc.35492

After three productive scientific years, the STEPUPIORS journey has come to an end! With newly funded cancer research initiatives and pending project applications, scientific publications, theses, Open days, trainings, collaborative initiatives and 4 project babies we can enter 2026 ready for new professional and personal adventures.

Miodrag Vukovic, Ana Djuric and Milena Cavic from IORS and Paul van der Leest form NKI AVL attended the inspiring 7th Advances in Circulating Tumor Cells meeting: “Liquid Biopsy: from Bench to Bedside” ACTC2025 Congress on Sept 24-27, 2025 in Thessaloniki, Greece, organized by Prof. Evi Lianidou and the Hellenic Society for Liquid BIopsy. They presented project results “Liquid biopsy in molecular diagnostics and scientific research in Serbia – insights from the STEPUPIORS and EXPAND-EV Horizon Europe projects”.