Publications

1. Articles funded by the project

Marinkovic M, Stojanovic-Rundic S, Stanojevic A, Ostojic M, Gavrilovic D, Jankovic R, Maksimovic N, Stroggilos R, Zoidakis J, Castellví-Bel S, Fijneman RJA, and Cavic M. Exploring novel genetic and hematological predictors of response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer. Front. Genet. 2023, 14:1245594. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1245594. link: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2023.1245594/full
2023 Marinkovic et al.

Stanojevic A, Samiotaki M, Lygirou V, Marinkovic M, Nikolic V, Stojanovic-Rundic S, Jankovic R, Vlahou A, Panayotou G, Fijneman RJA, Castellví-Bel S, Zoidakis J, and Cavic M. Data-Independent Acquisition Mass Spectrometry Analysis of FFPE Rectal Cancer Samples Offers In-Depth Proteomics Characterization of the Response to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2023; 24(20):15412. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242015412.
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/20/15412

Vuletić A, Mirjačić Martinović K, Spasić J. Role of Histone Deacetylase 6 and Histone Deacetylase 6 Inhibition in Colorectal Cancer. Pharmaceutics. 2024; 16(1):54. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16010054. Link: https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/16/1/54

Marinkovic M, Stojanovic-Rundic S, Stanojevic A, Tomasevic A, Jankovic R, Zoidakis J, Castellví-Bel S, Fijneman RJA, Cavic M, Radulovic M. Performance and Dimensionality of Pretreatment MRI Radiomics in Rectal Carcinoma Chemoradiotherapy Prediction. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2024; 13(2):421. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13020421

https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/13/2/421

Stanojevic A, Spasic J, Marinkovic M, Stojanovic-Sundic S, Jankovic R, Djuric A, Zoidakis J, Fijneman RJA, Castellvi-Bel S, Cavic M. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphic variants C677T and A1298C in rectal cancer in Slavic population: significance for cancer risk and response to chemoradiotherapy. Frontiers in Genetics. 2023; 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2023.1299599. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2023.1299599/full

Cavic M, Nikolic N, Marinkovic M, Damjanovic A, Krivokuca A, Tanic M, Radulovic M, Stanojevic A, Pejnovic L, Djordjic Crnogorac M, Djuric A, Vukovic M, Stevanovic V, Kijac J, Karadzic V, Nikolic S, Stojanovic-Rundic S, Jankovic R, Spasic J. Two Decades of Progress in Personalized Medicine of Colorectal Cancer in Serbia—Insights from the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia. Biomedicines. 2024; 12(10):2278. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12102278
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/12/10/2278

Stojanovic-Rundic S, Marinkovic M, Stanojevic A, Gavrilovic D, Jankovic R, Maksimovic N, Tomasevic A, Petrasinovic P, Radenkovic S, Cavic M. Dose Escalation in Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy for Rectal Cancer: Short-Term Efficacy and Toxicity of VMAT–SIB vs. 3D-CRT. Medicina. 2025; 61(3):483. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61030483

2. Articles from the project-related research field

Kijac J, Mirjacic Martinovic K, Cavic M. The significance of circulating cytokines in cancer development, prognosis and response to anticancer therapy. Chemical Review of the Serbian Chemical Society. 2024, 65(4): 81-90. ISSN 04406826.

Tanić M, Ecker S, Lyskjær I. Editorial: Epigenetic biomarkers for cancer risk stratification and patient management. Front Genet. 2024 May 8;15:1421500. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1421500.

Djikanovic B, Jankovic J, Cavic M. Precision public health perspective: is genomic population screening a viable option for the early detection of risks for oncological diseases? Reflections from Serbia. Serbian Journal of the Medical Chamber. 2025;6(1):16-27. doi: 10.5937/smclk6-57145

Llargués-Sistac G, Bonjoch L, Muñoz J, Domínguez-Rovira X, Ocaña T, Alvarez-Mora MI, Badenas C, Esteve-Codina A, Reyes-Silva C, Jaramillo-Koupermann G, Rodrigo MT, López-Prades S, Cuatrecasas M, Castells A, Balaguer F, Moreira L, Fernandez G, Castellví-Bel S. Germline structural variant as the cause of Lynch Syndrome in a family from Ecuador. NPJ Genom Med. 2025 Jan 17;10(1):3. doi: 10.1038/s41525-025-00462-y.

Herrera-Pariente C, Bonjoch L, Muñoz J, Fernàndez G, Soares de Lima Y, Mahmood R, Cuatrecasas M, Ocaña T, Lopez-Prades S, Llargués-Sistac G, Domínguez-Rovira X, Llach J, Luzko I, Díaz-Gay M, Lazaro C, Brunet J, Castillo-Manzano C, García-González MA, Lanas A, Carrillo M, Hernández San Gil R, Quintero E, Sala N, Llort G, Aguilera L, Carot L, Diez-Redondo P, Jover R, Ramon Y Cajal T, Cubiella J, Castells A, Balaguer F, Bujanda L, Castellví-Bel S, Moreira L. CTNND1 is involved in germline predisposition to early-onset gastric cancer by affecting cell-to-cell interactions. Gastric Cancer. 2024 Jul;27(4):747-759. doi: 10.1007/s10120-024-01504-7.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10120-024-01504-7

Damjanovic A, Tanic M, Nedeljkovic M, Jankovic R. CtDNA: What We Know and What We Are Looking For. Oncology Insights. 2024, 2:9-15. https://plus.cobiss.net/cobiss/sr/sr/bib/160563465. https://www.sdir.ac.rs/2024-no-2/

Cato T, Vukovic M, Cavic M. Liquid Biopsy Application in Cancer Diagnostics and Scientific Research. Chemical Review of the Serbian Chemical Society. 2025, 66(3): 65-77. ISSN 04406826.

https://hp.shd.org.rs/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/HP-3-25.pdf#page=11

Domínguez-Rovira X, Arnau-Collell C, Gonfaus-Ortiz G, et al. Germline pathogenic variants in HIC1 DNA binding domains are associated with familial serrated polyposis syndrome. Int J Cancer. 2025; 157(6): 1154-1167. doi:10.1002/ijc.35492

1. Abstracts funded by the project

Marinkovic M, Stojanović-Rundic S, Djurić A, Stanojevic A, Gavrilovic D, Jankovic R, Zoidakis J, Castellvi-Bel S, Fijneman R, Cavic M. Is there a relation between hematological toxicity and response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer? 13th International Congress of the Serbian Society of Toxicology and 1st Toxsee Regional Conference: Present and Future of Toxicology: Challenges and Opportunities, 10-12 May, 2023 Belgrade, Serbia. Abstract book, p. 198-201. →

Djuric A, Tanic M, Bjelogrlic S, Stojanovic-Rundic S, Marinkovic M, Stanojevic A, Fijneman R, Castellví-Bel S, Zoidakis J, Cavic M. The Road from Human Sample Collections to the First Rectal Cancer Biobank at the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia. Molecular Oncology, Volume 17 (Suppl. 1):464-465. EACR 2023: Innovative Cancer Science, 12-15 June 2023, Torino, Italy. Abstract No. 0685.→

Stefanovic A, Lygirou V, Stojanovic-Rundic S, Jankovic R, Castellvi-Bel S, Fijneman R, Vlahou A, Zoidakis J, Samiotaki M, Cavic M. Correlation between genetic and proteomic expression of predictive biomarkers of response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer identified by DIA mass spectrometry. Molecular Oncology, Volume 17 (Suppl. 1):96-97. EACR 2023: Innovative Cancer Science, 12-15 June 2023, Torino, Italy. Abstract No. 1195.→

Marinković M, Stojanović-Rundić S, Stefanović A, Janković R, Zoidakis J., Castellvi-Bel S., Fijneman R., Cavic M. Initial absolute basophil, eosinophil and monocyte counts as potential predictive markers in locally advanced rectal cancer. Annual meeting of the Hellenic Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 2-4.12.2022. Patra, Greece, Abstract book, ST56, P66. →

Stefanović A, Lygirou V, Marinković M, Stojanović-Rundić S, Janković R, Vlahou A, Zoidakis J, Fijneman R., Castellvi-Bel S., Samiotaki M, Čavić M. In-depth proteomic characterization of the response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer using data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry (DIA-MS). Annual meeting of the Hellenic Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 2-4.12.2022. Patra, Greece, Abstract book, P3, P99. →

Marinković M, Stojanović-Rundić S, Stanojević A, Janković R, Zoidakis J, Castellvi-Bel S, J.A. Fijneman R, Čavić M, Radulovic M. Predicting response to chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer using MRI-based radiomics features. 6th Congress of Serbian Association for Cancer Research (SDIR): From Collaboration to Innovation in Cancer Research, October 02-04th 2023. Belgrade, Serbia. Oncology Insight ISSN 3009-3848 2023. 2023(1). Abstract book. p.59. →

Stanojević A, Samiotaki M, Lygirou V, Marinković M, Nikolić V, Stojanović-Rundić S, Janković R, Banko A, Miljanović D, Vlahou A, Panayotou G, J.A. Fijneman R, Castellvi-Bel S, Zoidakis J, Čavić M. Detection of viral proteins in locally advanced rectal cancer patient samples by mass spectrometry – predictive potential for response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. 6th Congress of Serbian Association for Cancer Research (SDIR): From Collaboration to Innovation in Cancer Research, October 02-04th 2023. Belgrade, Serbia. Oncology Insight ISSN 3009-3848 2023. 2023(1). Abstract book. p.77-78.→

Bjelogrlić S, Tanić M, Marinković M, Jelena Spasić S, Đurić S, Stojanović-Rundić S, Stanojević A, Đorđić Crnogorac M, Mirjačić Martinović K, Vuletić A, Damjanović Veličković A, Radulović M, Janković R, Zoidakis J, Fijneman R, Castellví-Bel S, Krivokuća A, Čavić M. Establishment of a first cancer Biobank at the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia –advantages, challenges and future perspective. 6th Congress of Serbian Association for Cancer Research (SDIR): From Collaboration to Innovation in Cancer Research, October 02-04th 2023. Belgrade, Serbia. Oncology Insight ISSN 3009-3848 2023. 2023(1). Abstract book. p.44-45.→

Djuric A, Tanic M, Bjelogrlic S, Marinkovic M, Stanojevic A, Spasic J, Stojanovic-Rundic S, Jankovic R, Krivokuca A, Mirjacic Martinovic K, Vuletic A, Djordjic Crnogorac M, Damjanovic A, Radulovic M, Fijneman R, Zoidakis J, Castellví-Bel S, Cavic M. Importance of Biobanks for Translational Cancer Research in Serbia. 73rd Panhellenic Conference of the Hellenic Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 1 – 3 December, Athens, Greece. P200. Abstract book. p.300.→

Cavic M, Djuric A, Marinkovic M, Stanojevic A, Tanic M, Bjelogrlic S, Spasic J, Damjanovic A, Djordjic Crnogorac M, Vuletic A, Mirjacic Martinovic K, Radulovic M, Stojanovic-Rundic S, Krivokuca A, Jankovic R, Castellvi-Bel S, Zoidakis J, Fijneman R. Employing widening funds to address inequity in cancer research – example of the STEPUPIORS collaborative rectal cancer project [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 1304. https://doi.org/10.1158/1538-7445.AM2024-1304. →

Botta-Orfila T, Bjelogrlic S, Tanic M, Krivokuca A, Soler-Ventura A, Djuric A, Rodríguez-Vilarrupla A, Zoidakis J, Fijneman R, Castellví-Bel S, Cavic M. International Collaborative Biobanking: Shaping the future together. Europe Biobank Week Congress 2024, Vienna, Austria. 14-17.05.2024. Abstract book, p.83.

Tanić M, Bierkens M, Radulović M, Stanojević A, Marinković M, Krivokuća A, Janković R, Đurić A, Castellvi-Bel S, Zoidakis S, Fijneman R, Čavić M. Navigating ELSI for FAIR multiomics data management within STEPUPIORS international rectal cancer project. 5 th Belgrade Bioinformatics Conference – BelBi2024, Belgrade, Serbia, June 17-20, 2024. Abstract book, p. 117-118.→

Djuric A, Radulovic M, Damjanovic A, Fijneman R, Castellvi-Bel S, Zoidakis J, Cavic M. Expanding the Landscape of Professional Project Management to Support Cancer Research in Serbia. EACR 2024 Congress: Innovative Cancer Science. 10-13 June 2024, Rotterdam, Netherlands. Molecular Oncology 18 (Suppl. 1) (2024):373-374.→

Tanic M, Bjelogrlic S, Krivokuca A, Djuric A, Cavic M. Biobanking from Scratch: A Roadmap to Setup a Rectal Cancer Biobank Within the STEPUPIORS Project. In: HDIR-7: Advances in Cancer Research & Treatment; 2024 Nov 7–8; Zagreb, Croatia. Abstract book, L1, p4.→

Marinković M, Stojanović-Rundić S, Stanojević A, Janković R, Zoidakis J, Castellvi-Bel S, Fijneman R, Čavić M. The role of CEA and CA 19-9 tumor markers in predicting response to neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer. Third Serbian Radiation Oncology Congress. Vrdnik, Serbia. November 2-3, 2024. Abstract book. p.49-50.→

Cavic M, Djuric A, Marinkovic M, Stanojevic A, Tanic M, Damjanovic A, Spasic J, Bjelogrlic S, Djordjic Crnogorac M, Vuletic A, Mirjacic Martinovic K, Radulovic M, Stojanovic-Rundic S, Krivokuca A, Vukovic M, Kocic M, Zivic k, Karadzic V, Stevanovic V, Pantovic I, Jankovic R, Castellvi-Bel S, Zoidakis J, Lianidou E, Fijneman R. Employing widening EU funds to train the next generation of liquid biopsy researchers – example of the STEPUPIORS collaborative rectal cancer project. EACR-AstraZeneca Conference: Circulating Nucleic Acids (cfDNA/ctDNA): In use, in view and on the horizon. Virtual Event. Jan 28-29, 2025. Digital Abstract Book, Poster No. 2.→

Marinković M, Stojanović-Rundić S, Stanojević A, Tomašević A, Janković R, Djurić A, Zoidakis J, Castellví-Bel S, Fijneman RJA, Čavić M. Prognostic factors for disease-free interval in patients with rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and dose intensification. Radiotherapy and Oncology, Volume 206 (Suppl. 1): 1223-1224. ESTRO 2025: Transformative Innovation through Partnership, 02-06 May 2025, Vienna, Austria. Abstract No. 3028.→

Stanojevic A, Stroggilos R, Marinkovic M, Stojanovic-Rundic S, Jankovic R, Castellvi-Bel S, Fijneman R, Vlahou A, Zoidakis J, Cavic M. Meta-analysis of publicly available transcriptomics data reveals predictive biomarkers for neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer. Radiotherapy and Oncology, Volume 206 (Suppl. 1): 4024-4025. ESTRO 2025: Transformative Innovation through Partnership, 02-06 May 2025, Vienna, Austria. Abstract No. 4395. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S016781402503350X →

Vuletic A, Mirjačić Martinović K, Srdić-Rajić T, Tišma Miletić N, Đurić A, Nikolić K, Ružić D, Čavić M. Novel 1-benzhydryl piperazine scaffold-based HDAC inhibitor b7 induces synergistic antiproliferative effect with vemurafenib in colorectal cancer cells harboring BRAF mutation. EACR2025 Congress, Lisbon, Portugal. June 16-19, 2025. Molecular Oncology 19 (Suppl. 1) (2025) 160–161.→

2. Abstracts from the project-related research field

Djordjic Crnogorac M, Karadzic V, Krivokuca A. Identification of two novel germline MLH1 mutations in colorectal carcinoma patients: Variant interpretation in practice. 15th International Symposium of Variants in the Genome. Porto, Portugal. Abstract book, p.79-80. POS39.→

Djordjic Crnogorac M, Krivokuca A, Karadzic V. Hereditary colorectal cancer – first report on mutational profile in Serbia. 10th Biennial Meeting of the International Society for Gastrointestinal Hereditary Tumors, June 19-22, 2024, Barcelona, Spain. InSight 2024 Abstract Book, p.433-433, P108→

Bjelogrlic S, Tanic M, Krivokuca A, Djuric A, Marinkovic M, Stanojevic A, Botta-Orfila T, Castellví-Bel S, Fijneman R, Cavic M. SWOT Analysis for Maintaining the Sustainability of Newly Established Rectal Cancer Biobank at the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia. EACR2025 Congress, Lisbon, Portugal. June 16-19, 2025. Molecular Oncology 19 (Suppl. 1) (2025) 646–647.→

Cavic M, Djuric A, Marinkovic M, Stanojevic A, Vukovic M, Filipovic L, Damjanovic A, Tanic M, Stevanovic V, Cato T, Stojanovic-Rundic S, Fijneman R, Castellvi-Bel S, Zoidakis I, Spasic J, Jankovic R, Popovic M. Liquid biopsy in molecular diagnostics and scientific research in Serbia – insights from the STEPUPIORS and EXPAND-EV Horizon Europe projects. 7th Advances in Circulating Tumor Cells meeting: “Liquid Biopsy: from Bench to Bedside” (ACTC25 Congress), Sept 24-27, 2025, Thessaloniki, Greece. PP087, p44.→

Marinkovic M, Stojanovic-Rundic S, Stanojevic A, Ostojic M, Gavrilovic D, Jankovic R, Maksimovic N, Stroggilos R, Zoidakis J, Castellvi-Bel S, Fijneman R.J.A, Cavic M. Exploring novel inflammation-related genetic and hematological predictors of response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer. medRxiv 2023.06.20.23291673; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.06.20.23291673

Stanojevic A, Samiotaki M, Lygirou V, Marinkovic M, Nikolic V, Stojanovic-Rundic S, Jankovic R, Vlahou A, Panayotou G, Fijneman R.J.A, Castellvi-Bel S, Zoidakis J , Cavic M. Data independent acquisition mass spectrometry (DIA-MS) analysis of FFPE rectal cancer samples offers in depth proteomics characterization of response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. →

Stanojevic A, Spasic J, Marinkovic M, Stojanovic-Rundic S, Jankovic R, Djuric A, Zoidakis J, Fijneman R, Castellvi-Bel S, Cavic M. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphic variants in rectal cancer: significance for cancer risk and response to chemoradiotherapy. medRxiv 2023.09.21.23295916; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.09.21.23295916 →

Marinković M, Stojanović-Rundić S, Stanojevic A, Tomašević A, Janković R, Zoidakis J, Castellví-Bel S, Fijneman R, Čavić M, Radulović M. Performance and Dimensionality of Pretreatment MRI Radiomics in Rectal Carcinoma Chemoradiotherapy Prediction. Preprints 2023, 2023100560. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202310.0560.v1

https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202310.0560/v1 →

Vuletić, A., Mirjačić Martinović, K., & Spasić, J. (2023). Role of HDAC6 and HDAC6 Inhibition in Colorectal Cancer. Preprints.
https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202311.1805.v1 https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202311.1805/v1 →

Cavic M, Nikolic N, Marinkovic M, Damjanovic A, Krivokuca A, Tanic M, Radulovic M, Stanojevic A, Pejnovic L, Djordjic Crnogorac M, Djuric A, Vukovic M, Stevanovic V, Kijac J, Karadzic V, Nikolic S, Stojanovic-Rundic S, Jankovic R, Spasic J. Two Decades of Progress in Personalized Medicine of Colorectal Cancer in Serbia – Insights from the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia. Preprints, 2024, 2024090672. doi: 10.20944/preprints202409.0672.v1.
https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202409.0672/v1 →

Stojanovic-Rundic, S., Marinkovic, M., Stanojevic, A., Gavrilovic, D., Jankovic, R., Maksimovic, N., Tomasevic, A., Petrasinovic, P., Radenkovic, S., & Cavic, M. (2025). Dose Escalation in Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy for Rectal Cancer: Efficacy and Toxicity of VMAT-SIB vs. 3D-CRT. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202502.0071.v1

https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202502.0071/v1 →

Stanojevic A, Stroggilos R, Marinkovic M, Djuric A, Stojanovic-Rundic S, Jankovic R, Castellvi-Bel S, Fijneman R, Vlahou A, Zoidakis J, Cavic M. Profiling Neoadjuvant Therapy Response in Rectal Cancer Using Publicly Available Transcriptomic RNA-seq Datasets. medRxiv 2025.07.18.25331799; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.07.18.25331799. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.07.18.25331799v1 →

Proteomics Dataset
Stanojevic A, Samiotaki M, Lygirou V, Marinkovic M, Nikolic V, Stojanovic-Rundic S, Jankovic R, Vlahou A, Panayotou G, Fijneman RJA, Castellví-Bel S, Zoidakis J, Cavic M. Data-Independent Acquisition Mass Spectrometry Analysis of FFPE Rectal Cancer Samples Offers In-Depth Proteomics Characterization of the Response to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 24(20):1541. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242015412. PubMed: 37895091.

Accessible at: http://www.ebi.ac.uk/pride/archive/projects/PXD040451 and https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17769133

Radiomics Dataset
Marinkovic M, Stojanovic-Rundic S, Stanojevic A, Tomasevic A, Jankovic R, Zoidakis J, Castellví-Bel S, Fijneman RJA, Cavic M, Radulovic M. Performance and Dimensionality of Pretreatment MRI Radiomics in Rectal Carcinoma Chemoradiotherapy Prediction. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2024; 13(2):421. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13020421

Accessible at: https://zenodo.org/records/8379940

First newsletter

Second newsletter

Patient brochure on genetic testing in hereditary colorectal cancer

Third newsletter

STEPUPIORS Scientific brochure 2024

Fourth newsletter

One Health in Serbia Stakeholder Meeting Recommendations

Fifth newsletter

Sixth newsletter

Mladen Marinković. Evaluation of Prognostic and Predictive Clinical and Molecular Markers in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Patients treated with Neoadjuvant Radiochemotherapy using Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy Planning and Simultaneous Integrated Boost.
Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia. Thesis defended on 08.07.2024.

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17769393