Luka Jovanovic

Dr. Luka Jovanovic


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

10Years (2017-Present)

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

Representative Publications

View All Publications
1 January 2022 in Vojnosanitetski Pregled
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
LJLuka Jovanovic
Luka Jovanovic
PFPredrag Filipovic
Predrag Filipovic
JDJelena Dedovic-Stojakovic
Jelena Dedovic-Stojakovic
ZMZorka Milovanovic
Zorka Milovanovic
MBMilica Labudović Borović
Milica Labudović Borović
VPVesna Plesinac-Karapandzic
Vesna Plesinac-Karapandzic
Introduction. Angiosarcomas (ASs) arising from vascular tissue, account for 3.3% of all sarcomas and have a poor prognosis. Radiation-induced AS is a rare late complication of radiotherapy (RT) treatment and is characterized by a gene expression profile such as amplification of the MYC oncogene, by which we can distinguish primary from secondary induced tumor. Case report. For a 77-year-old female patient with early-stage endometrial adenocarcinoma, a radical hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was initially done. According to pathological risk factors, the postoperative external beam conformal RT (CRT) of the pelvis was administered with concomitant brachytherapy. Six years after the treatment, on the anterior abdominal wall, in the region of the postoperative irradiation field and surgical scar, an infiltrative AS of the skin and subcutaneous adipose tissue was histologically confirmed. The patient received six cycles of mono-adriamycin chemotherapy with verified partial regression. Additional immunohistochemical analysis (IHC) of c-MYC, Ki67, and CD34 expression showed a high proliferative index (Ki67 around 60%) and c-MYC positivity indicating the molecular pattern of radiation-induced AS. Furthermore, the high proliferative index could explain the positive response to chemotherapy. Conclusion. The novel postoperative RT techniques provide better survival and local control in risk-endometrial cancer groups with a decrease in irradiation complications. These patients with longer survival are at a higher risk of developing radiation-induced tumors as late side-effects of RT. When assessing the probability of radiation-induced AS, IHC analysis of c-MYC expression could distinguish secondary from other AS if Cahan?s criteria are fulfilled.

1 January 2017 in Medicinski podmladak
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
LJLuka Jovanovic
Luka Jovanovic
KIKatarina Isailovic
Katarina Isailovic
NONatasa Opavski
Natasa Opavski
Introduction: Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important human pathogen and the most common cause of acute otitis media (AOM), especially in children. It is also a common cause of community acquired pneumonia, sepsis and bacterial meningitis. Drug of choice in the treatment of these disease are beta lactam antibiotics, and the first alternative are macrolides. The increasing prevalence of resistance to penicillin and macrolides, among pneumococci, has considerably complicated the treatment. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine susceptibility of pneumococcal isolates from pediatric AOM in Serbia to antibiotics. Material and methods: Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of 61 pneumococcal AOM was performed, collected from December 2014 to December 2015, using disk diffusion method and E test. Macrolide resistance profile was determined by double disk diffusion test. Results: In our study, 40 strains (65.6%) showed reduced sensitivity to penicillin and erythromycin. There were 9 (14.8%) high resistant isolates to penicillin, while 31 (50.8%) showed reduced susceptibility. The most frequent resistance phenotype was cMLS. Co-resistance to penicillin and macrolides was found in 14.8% strains. Conclusion: Our results showed high resistance rate of S. pneumoniae, which causes AOM among children, to penicillin and macrolides. Further active surveillance of pneumococcal susceptibility to antibiotics is necessary, and use of these medications in empirical therapy should be limited.

7 September 2026 in Cancers
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
JSJelena Stanic
Jelena Stanic
MPMarija Popovic-Vukovic
Marija Popovic-Vukovic
PNPredrag Nikic
Predrag Nikic
ISIvana Sovic
Ivana Sovic
LJLuka Jovanovic
Luka Jovanovic
ATAleksandar Tomasevic
Aleksandar Tomasevic
Background: Organized cervical cancer screening aims to reduce the burden of advanced disease through earlier detection. However, a substantial proportion of women continue to present with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) requiring definitive chemoradiation. This study evaluated temporal changes in the demographic and clinicopathological characteristics of women with LACC treated with definitive chemoradiation before and after implementation of the organized cervical cancer screening program in Serbia. Methods: This retrospective single-center cohort study included 200 consecutive women with histologically confirmed LACC treated with definitive chemoradiation at the Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia. Two cohorts were analyzed: a pre-screening cohort (2010–2011, n = 100) and a post-screening cohort (2022–2023, n = 100). Demographic and clinicopathological characteristics, including age, histopathology, FIGO stage, lymph node involvement, and geographic distribution, were compared. For study purposes, all patients were retrospectively restaged according to the FIGO 2018 classification using the best available clinical, radiological, and pathological data. Results: Women in the post-screening cohort were significantly older at diagnosis than those in the pre-screening cohort (mean age 54.9 vs. 49.7 years, p = 0.0046), with a substantially higher proportion of patients older than 64 years (28% vs. 2%, p < 0.0001). Although the overall distribution of FIGO stages II–IV did not differ significantly, a marked redistribution of FIGO 2018 substages was observed (p < 0.0001), characterized by an increased proportion of stage IIIC disease and significantly more frequent lymph node involvement (63% vs. 41%, p = 0.0018). Geographic distribution remained stable, with most patients referred from the Belgrade administrative district. Conclusions: This study demonstrated clinically relevant temporal changes in the demographic and clinicopathological characteristics of women requiring definitive chemoradiation for LACC in Serbia. More than a decade after implementation of organized cervical cancer screening, tertiary referral centers continue to manage a substantial burden of patients with locally advanced disease requiring complex, resource-intensive treatment. These findings should not be interpreted as a direct evaluation of the national screening program but may provide valuable insights for healthcare planning in Serbia and other countries with similarly resource-constrained healthcare systems. Strengthening participation in organized screening, ensuring timely diagnostic evaluation, and improving HPV vaccination uptake remain essential to reduce the burden of advanced cervical cancer.