Gordana Djordjevic

Malignant tumours are a major public health problem in many countries of the world, including Serbia. The analysis of morbidity and mortality trends is important for planning prevention and treatment measures. The purpose of this paper is to analyse malignant tumours morbidity and mortality in the population of the Šumadija District for the period 1999-2020. The study was designed as a descriptive epidemiological study. The Cancer Register for Central Serbia was used as the source of data on morbidity and mortality for the period 1999-2015, and the Cancer Registry in the Republic of Serbia for the period 2016-2020. In Šumadija District, a total of 37,059 new tumours of all types (C00-C97) were diagnosed and 16,342 persons died in the period from 1999 to 2020. Leading tumour localizations in men were lung and bronchi carcinoma (18.2%), colorectal cancer (12.7%), prostate cancer (10.2%), and in women breast cancer (22.4%), colorectal cancer (8.3%), lung and bronchi cancer (7.6%), and cervical cancer (7.0%). Most common fatal outcomes in men were from lung and bronchi cancer (30.1%), colorectal cancer (12.3%) and prostate cancer (8.4%), while in women, the most common causes of death from cancer were breast cancer (17.9%), lung and bronchi cancer (17.2%) and colorectal cancer (10.7%). Prevention and early detection of malignant diseases should be a health policy priority in every country.

Trends and Patterns of Disparities in Oral Cavity and Pharyngeal Cancer in Serbia: Prevalence and Economic Consequences in a Transitional Country

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are proteolytic enzymes that are involved in a variety of physiological and pathological processes, including those in CNS. In this study, plasma values of MMP-3 and MMP-9 have been compared in clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients during their acute attacks, in relation to the biological activity of disease. Therefore, we compared the MMPs plasma values regarding Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), progression index of disease (PID), acute brain lesion volume seen on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and index of blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability destruction. The obtained results demonstrated higher plasma values of MMPs in both study groups than control values (p < 0.05). No statistical significances have been detected comparing the obtained values of both enzymes between CIS and RRMS group (p > 0.05). In both CIS and RRMS groups, the patients with higher EDSS showed higher MMPs plasma values (p < 0.05). The MMPs values were also significantly higher in both study patients with higher total number comparing to those with lower number of MRI brain lesion (p < 0.05) (beyond MMP-3 in RRMS). All obtained correlations, between MMPs and EDSS, PID, volume of MRI Gd-enhancement brain lesions, and index of BBB permeability, were positive (p < 0.05.) This study demonstrates alterations of both tested MMPs with closed correlation with the disease biological activity. Although MMPs are being implicated in the pathogenesis of acute neuroinflammation, the MMPs modulation might be useful in the future design of disease modifying therapy with the specific target profile.

Introduction. Extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma is a rare, prognostically bad tumor category. Primary, it can be localized in every organ, even in the ovary, where, due to its clinical specificities, it represents a challenge in diagnosis, as well as in therapy. Small cell ovarian carcinoma (SCOC) is biologically very aggressive malignant tumor of unknown histogenesis. We presented a rare case of SCOC with hypercalcemia of aggressive course and fatal outcome in a postmenopausal woman at International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Ia stage. Case report. A 60-year-old woman, Caucasian, came to the doctor because of discomfort in the lower abdomen and pain of greater intensity in last few days. Ultrasound examination and CT scan of the abdomen confirmed the presence of large adnexal masses of cystic-solid appearance with the largest diameter of 13 cm, regular structure of the other gynecological organs, without verifying the existence of metastatic deposits. All the results of laboratory analysis gave normal values, except for calcium, which was elevated. Explorative laparotomy with complete hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, dissection of lymph nodes and omentectomy were conducted. Based on pathohistological analysis of the operative material, SCOC at FIGO Ia stage was diagnosed. No complications were observed in a postsurgery period and after 10 days the patient was discharged in a good condition and with normal calcemia. The treatment was continued with concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, in spite of overall treatment, the disease progressed, and the patient died of disseminated metastatic disease, 26 months after the diagnosis. Conclusion. Small cell carcinoma localized in the ovary is generally a tumor category with bad prognosis depending on the stage of the disease.