1. Establishment of a virtual transborder tumor board for cancer patients in Central and Southeastern Europe : an initiative of the Central European Cooperative Oncology Group (CECOG)Christiane Thallinger, Peter Berzinec, Emina Bicakcic, Adelina Dan, Gabriella Fabian, Laurentia Nicoletta Gales, Cvetka Grašič-Kuhar, Urška Janžič, Marina Mencinger, Christoph Zielinski, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: o establish a transborder virtual tumor board (VTB) fostering state-of-the-art management of cancer patients by exchanging knowledge and expertise among oncologists in Central and Southeastern Europe (CEE). Methods: We established and implemented a VTB based on the WebEx platform. This allowed for password-protected and secure upload of patient cases to be presented and discussed among colleagues from various oncology centers scattered throughout CEE in order to arrive at a recommendation for further diagnoses and/or treatment. Results: A total of 73 cases from 16 oncology centers located in 11 CEE countries were uploaded by 22 physicians; 71 were discussed over the course of 17 virtual meetings between June 2018 and May 2019 and 12 different kinds of malignant diseases were discussed with lung cancer (46.6%), melanoma (19.2%) and bladder cancer (13.6%) being the most commonly presented tumor entities. Of the discussed patients, 93.3% had stage IV disease at the time of presentation, 62.6% received chemotherapy or targeted treatment and 67.1% were treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPIs). The most common causes for presentation and discussion of patient cases were related to the use of ICPIs (80%). Conclusion: When the need for expertise exceeds locally available resources, web-based VTBs provide a feasible way to discuss patient cases and arrive at conclusions regarding diagnoses and/or treatment across large geographic distances. Moreover, VTBs provide an innovative way for proper, state-of-the-art management of patients with malignant diseases in times of social distancing and the resulting need for restricted interaction during the current SARS-CoV‑2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2) pandemic. Keywords: CECOG, Osrednja in jugovzhodna Evropa, nadzorni imunski zaviralci, maligne bolezni Published in DiRROS: 31.03.2022; Views: 898; Downloads: 536
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2. NSCLC molecular testing in Central and Eastern European countriesAles Ryška, Peter Berzinec, Luka Brčić, Tanja Čufer, Rafal Dziadziuszko, Maya Gottfried, Ilona Kovalszky, Włodzimierz Olszewski, Buge Oz, Lukas Plank, József Tímár, 2018, original scientific article Abstract: Background: The introduction of targeted treatments for subsets of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has highlighted the importance of accurate molecular diagnosis to determine if an actionable genetic alteration is present. Few data are available for Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) on mutation rates, testing rates, and compliance with testing guidelines. Methods: A questionnaire about molecular testing and NSCLC management was distributed to relevant specialists in nine CEE countries, and pathologists were asked to provide the results of EGFR and ALK testing over a 1-year period. Results: A very high proportion of lung cancer cases are confirmed histologically/cytologically (75-100%), and molecular testing of NSCLC samples has been established in all evaluated CEE countries in 2014. Most countries follow national or international guidelines on which patients to test for EGFR mutations and ALK rearrangements. In most centers at that time, testing was undertaken on request of the clinician rather than on the preferred reflex basis. Immunohistochemistry, followed by fluorescent in situ hybridization confirmation of positive cases, has been widely adopted for ALK testing in the region. Limited reimbursement is a significant barrier to molecular testing in the region and a disincentive to reflex testing. Multidisciplinary tumor boards are established in most of the countries and centers, with 75-100% of cases being discussed at a multidisciplinary tumor board at specialized centers. Conclusions: Molecular testing is established throughout the CEE region, but improved and unbiased reimbursement remains a major challenge for the future. Increasing the number of patients reviewed by multidisciplinary boards outside of major centers and access to targeted therapy based on the result of molecular testing are other major challenges. Keywords: non-small-cell lung carcinoma, molecular diagnostic techniques, EGFR mutations, ALK rearrangements, Central Europe, Eastern Europe Published in DiRROS: 30.11.2020; Views: 1931; Downloads: 996
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3. Access to novel drugs for non-small cell lung cancer in Central and Southeastern Europe : a Central European Cooperative Oncology Group analysisTanja Čufer, Tudor Ciuleanu, Peter Berzinec, Gabriela Galffy, Marko Jakopović, Jacek Jassem, Dragana Jovanovic, Zhasmina MIhaylova, Gyula Ostoros, Christiane Thallinger, Milada Zemanova, Christoph Zielinski, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: Background. Treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) improved substantially in the last decades. Novel targeted and immune-oncologic drugs were introduced into routine treatment. Despite accelerated development and subsequent drug registrations by the European Medicinal Agency (EMA), novel drugs for NSCLC are poorly accessible in Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. Material and Methods. The Central European Cooperative Oncology Group conducted a survey among experts from 10 CEE countries to provide an overview on the availability of novel drugs for NSCLC and time from registration to reimbursement decision in their countries. Results. Although first-generation epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors were reimbursed and available in all countries, for other registered therapies - even for ALK inhibitors and checkpoint inhibitors in first-line - there were apparent gaps in availability and/or reimbursement. There was a trend for better availability of drugs with longer time from EMA marketing authorization. Substantial differences in access to novel drugs among CEE countries were observed. In general, the availability of drugs is not in accordance with the Magnitude of Clinical Benefit Scale (MCBS), as defined by the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO). Time spans between drug registrations and national decisions on reimbursement vary greatly, from less than 3 months in one country to more than 1 year in the majority of countries. Conclusion. The access to novel drugs for NSCLC in CEE countries is suboptimal. To enable access to the most effective compounds within the shortest possible time, reimbursement decisions should be faster and ESMO MCBS should be incorporated into decision making. Keywords: non-small cell lung cancer, treatment, novel drugs, Central Europe, Southeastern Europe Published in DiRROS: 24.07.2020; Views: 2080; Downloads: 1177
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