The Serbian (SDIR), Croatian (HDIR) and Turkish (MOKAD) associations for cancer research organized the 1st Regional European congress for cancer research (SHM1RC) under the auspices of the European Association for Cancer Research (EACR). The congress took place at Nobel Zira hotel in Belgrade, on October 8–10, 2025, and brought together around 300 scientists, clinicians and patients’ advocates not only from our region, but from 16 countries all over Europe and the USA.
During the opening ceremony, SHM1RC participants were welcomed by Dr. Milena Čavić, SDIR president, prof. Engin Ulukaya, MOKAD president, prof. Sonja Levanat, HDIR president, ass. prof. Milan Žegarac, acting director of the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, prof. Nenad Filipović, director of the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia and Dr. Milica Pešić and Dr. Ana Damjanović Veličković as chairs of the Scientific and Organizing committee, respectively.
Left – Dr Milena Čavić, Prof. Engin Ulukaya, Prof. Sonja Levanat, SDIR, HDIR and MOKAD Presidents. Right – Dr. Milica Pešić and Dr. Ana Damjanović Veličković chairs of the Scientific and Organizing committee.
The SHM1RC congress addressed key topics in current cancer research through the following sessions: Benefits of combination therapies in cancer treatment, Personalized anticancer treatment through targeting signaling pathways, Tumor microenvironment – friend or foe, Immmunooncology, Exploring the role of MDR mechanisms and stem cell biology in cancer treatment strategies, Cancer epidemiology – strategies for prevention and early detection, Advancements in molecular diagnostics and cancer biomarkers in oncology, Liquid biopsy (EACR plenary session), Bioinformatics and cancer genomics, Novel cancer therapies and drug development strategies, Toxic triggers – environmental chemicals and cancer risk, Tumor metabolism and Innovative models and Approaches in cancer research.
In summary, participants had the opportunity to listen to two plenary lectures, 37 invited lectures, 22 short presentations selected from 106 posters and six sponsored symposiums. Abstracts from the congress were published in Oncology Insights, the official journal of SDIR (ISSN 3009-3848, 2025, No.3).
Professor Evi Lianidou from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece, gave an EACR-supported Plenary Lecture “The potential of comprehensive liquid biopsy analysis for the management of cancer patients”. Prof. Karen-Lise Garm Spindler from Aarhus University – Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, gave a Plenary Lecture “ctDNA-Response evaluation criteria in solid tumors – significance for monitoring of patient outcomes”.
Patient-clinician-scientist educational interactive panel took place during the session Bridging patients and researchers. Patients’ advocates addressed the main concerns related to participation in scientific/clinical research and emphasized the need to improve partnership between patients and researchers. Young scientists had an opportunity to discuss topics on career development in Meet the experts session. Scientific projects were presented during the Projects Hub session throughout the congress. At the very end of the meeting, participants discussed regional collaboration through a scientific session and an interactive panel.
The congress was closed by an Award ceremony supported by the EACR, FebsOpenBio, Molecular Oncology Journal and the European Liquid Biopsy Society.
EACR Awards were presented by EACR Board member Prof. Evi Lianidou to:
1st prize: Beyza Ozturk Sever, Turkey – Investigation of the effect of exportin-1 gene inhibition with Selinexor on glioma)
2nd prize: Vuk Gordić, Serbia – The effect of novel diclofenac-based carbone-substituted prodrug on colon cancer cell lines and mouse-derived organoids
3rd prize: Ivana Banićević, Serbia – A 3D in vitro osteosarcoma model based on porous scaffolds and a perfusion bioreactor for preclinical applications
Molecular Oncology Journal Award for best short oral presentation was shared by Muhlis Akman, Turkey – TFEB Controls Chemoresistance in NSCLC, and Janja Josić, Croatia – Expression profiling of p53 family isoforms in targeted therapy-resistant primary melanoma cell lines, and presented by their Ambassador Dr Oyku Geyik.
FEBSOpenBio Award for best young researcher abstract was presented by their Ambassador Dr Tamara Saksida to Josipa Jelačić, Croatia – Estrogen receptor modulation and Hedgehog-GLI crosstalk in Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
ELBS Award for best liquid biopsy abstract was given to Dr Bojana Cikota-Aleksić, Serbia – The association of baseline concentrations of circulating tumor DNA with clinical course of advanced melanoma.
On Saturday, October 11, 2025, congress participants enjoyed a guided tour through the history and streets of the beautiful city of Belgrade, hosted by Srđan Ristić and the National Tourism Organization of Serbia.
