Oana Cojocaru

Dr. Oana Cojocaru


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

7Years (2020-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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5 December 2023 in Diagnostics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MDMariana Deacu
Mariana Deacu
MBMadalina Bosoteanu
Madalina Bosoteanu
MEManuela Enciu
Manuela Enciu
Georgeta Camelia CozaruGeorgeta Camelia Cozaru
Georgeta Camelia Cozaru
OCOana Cojocaru
Oana Cojocaru
RVRaluca Ioana Voda
Raluca Ioana Voda
Lipomatous tumors are the most frequent soft tissue neoplasms. Sometimes their differential diagnosis is difficult to perform only by microscopic analysis. This study aims to create a histopathological scoring system and highlight the impact of intratumoral microvascular density. This study was conducted over 10 years. We analyzed the main pathogenic pathways (MDM2 and CDK4), as well as the tumor microvascularization (CD31 and CD34) by immunohistochemical tests. We also analyzed the status of the MDM2 gene by CISH. These data, together with the clinical and histopathological information, were statistically analyzed by appropriate tests. We identified 112 eligible cases, with most of the patients being in their sixth decade of life, with a slight predominance of the female sex. We found important associations like tumor location linked to nuclear pleomorphism severity and microvascularization density correlated with atypia severity. Also, we observed that a maximum diameter of a tumor of at least 69 mm is associated with the presence of tumor necrosis. The score designed in this study shows an increased sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of lipomas (100%, respectively, 97%), atypical lipomatous tumors (93.8%, respectively, 82.3%), and liposarcomas (100%, respectively, 90.5%). This present study enhances the present data by bringing to attention the histopathological score with a role in differential diagnosis, as well as in the prediction of immunohistochemical and genetic tests. Also, we highlighted the importance of microvascular density, especially in the diagnosis of liposarcomas.

10 November 2025 in Medicina
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
LPLaura Andra Petrica
Laura Andra Petrica
MDMariana Deacu
Mariana Deacu
Georgeta Camelia CozaruGeorgeta Camelia Cozaru
Georgeta Camelia Cozaru
AMAnca Mitroi
Anca Mitroi
GBGabriela Izabela Bălţătescu
Gabriela Izabela Bălţătescu
MAMariana Aşchie
Mariana Aşchie
Background: Cervical cancer remains a major cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide, with limited therapeutic options for advanced disease. As we better understand the fine mechanisms involved in the interaction between tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment, new paths and opportunities will emerge. Recent evidence highlights the prognostic and predictive roles of immune checkpoint markers and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), especially CD8+ TILs, in shaping treatment outcomes. Objectives: This study investigated the immunohistochemical expression of PD-L1 and CD8+ TILs in 48 newly diagnosed, treatment-naive cervical cancer cases and analyzed their associations with clinicopathological features and survival outcomes. Results: In our cohort, we observed that PD-L1 positivity was identified in 68.8% of cases, most frequently in advanced FIGO stages and in tumors with lympho-vascular invasion or with a high proliferation rate evaluated by the Ki-67 index. High levels of intra-tumoral CD8+ TILs were observed in 52.1% of cases and correlated positively with stromal TILs, lower proliferation rates, and absence of vascular invasion. A significant inverse relationship was found between PD-L1 expression and the density of CD8+ TILs (p = 0.047). Survival analysis showed that patients exhibiting a “cold” immunophenotype with low levels of CD8+ TILs and PD-L1-positive tumors had worse outcomes, while high levels of CD8+ TILs played a protective role. Conclusions: Our study highlights the importance of the immunohistochemical assessment of PD-L1 and CD8+ TILs biomarkers, which have a complementary inter-relationship and have a significant prognostic impact on cervical squamous cell carcinoma. PD-L1 positivity marks aggressive disease features, while higher intra-tumoral CD8+ TIL density is protective. Their combined evaluation may improve patient stratification and inform immunotherapy strategies.

1 August 2020 in Ars Medica Tomitana
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
OCOana Cojocaru
Oana Cojocaru
AMAschie Mariana
Aschie Mariana
NANicolau Antonela Anca
Nicolau Antonela Anca
BIBurlacu Ionut
Burlacu Ionut
EMEnciu Manuela
Enciu Manuela
BIBaltatescu Gabriela Izabela
Baltatescu Gabriela Izabela
Studies in recent years have shown that the immune system plays an important role in the prognosis of patients with different types of malignancies. The tumor immune microenvironment has been studied in various cancers in an attempt to find new antitumoral therapies. The therapeutic blockade of PD-1/PD-L1 has revolutionized the treatment of oncological pacients, with anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies having remarkable results in malignant melanoma, cervical, renal and lung cancer. In laryngeal cancer, few reports are available on the immune microenvironment and PD-L1 expression. Considering these, we retrospectively review 23 laryngeal cancer patients with laryngectomy performed in the Otorhinolaryngology Department - Emergency County Clinical Hospital St Andrew Constanta. The aim of our research was to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of PD-L1, using combined positive score which includes both viable tumoral cells and intratumoral lymphocytes, as well as the level of CD8 intratumoral lymphocytes and to analise the corelation between these markers and the clinicopathological characteristics of the pacients, in order to set these two parameters, in the near future, as new biomarkers. PD-L1 expression was shown to be a prognostic factor for disease-free survival in laryngeal cancer patients (p = 0.006) and was higher in tumors with elevated CD8 lymphocyte levels, with a significant correlation correlation between the two parameters (p = 0.019). The level of CD8 lymphocytes was also a predictive factor for free-disease survival, correlated with patient smoker status (p = 0.04), being higher in non-smoking patients.

30 July 2025 in Gastrointestinal Disorders
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ADAlexandra Dinu
Alexandra Dinu
MAMariana Aşchie
Mariana Aşchie
MDMariana Deacu
Mariana Deacu
ACAnca Chisoi
Anca Chisoi
MEManuela Enciu
Manuela Enciu
SVSabina E Vlad
Sabina E Vlad
Background/Objectives: The 2019 WHO classification redefined high-grade gastrointestinal neuroendocrine neoplasms (GI NENs), encompassing not only poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs), but also well-differentiated grade 3 neuroendocrine tumors (NETs G3). Since both subtypes share a Ki-67 index > 20%, distinguishing them based solely on morphology is challenging. Prior studies have shown TP53 alterations in NECs but not in NETs. This study aimed to evaluate clinico-morphological parameters and the immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of p53 in high-grade GI NENs to identify relevant correlations. Methods: Tumors were stratified by Ki-67 index into two groups: >20–50% and >50%. p53 IHC expression was assessed as “wild-type” (1–20% positive tumor cells) or “non-wild-type” (absence or >20% positivity). Correlations were analyzed between Ki-67, p53 status, and various pathological features. Results: Significant correlations were found between the Ki-67 index and maximum tumor size, pT stage, lymphovascular invasion, perineural infiltration, and diagnostic classification. Similarly, p53 immunohistochemical status was significantly associated with lymphovascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, and tumor classification (NET G3 versus NEC, including NEC components of MiNENs). Conclusions: The findings support the value of Ki-67 and p53 as complementary biomarkers in the pathological evaluation of high-grade GI NENs. Their significant associations with key morphological parameters support their utility in differentiating NETs G3 from NECs, particularly in cases showing overlapping histological features. The immunohistochemical profile of p53 may serve as a useful diagnostic adjunct in routine practice.

11 October 2022 in Fetal and Pediatric Pathology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
MEManuela Enciu
Manuela Enciu
GBGabriela Izabela Bălţătescu
Gabriela Izabela Bălţătescu
OCOana Cojocaru
Oana Cojocaru
IBIonut Burlacu
Ionut Burlacu
VCViorel Constantin Cristurean
Viorel Constantin Cristurean
ANAntonela-Anca Nicolau
Antonela-Anca Nicolau
Background: Teratomas can occur in the umbilical cord, and may or may not be associated with other congenital abnormalities. Case report: This 35-year-old primigravida gave birth 37–38 weeks to a 3290-g normal female. The umbilical cord, at 10 cm from the abdominal insertion, had an 8 cm mature teratoma. Work-up revealed no other abnormalities. Discussion: Mature teratomas may occur in the umbilical cord, and may or may not have additional clinical sequalae.
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