Modern cancer treatment is increasingly based on a personalized approach, with therapies tailored to the biological characteristics of tumors and the individual needs of patients. This was highlighted at the first UPMC International Oncology Forum held in Zagreb.
Experts from Croatia, Europe and the United States discussed advances in cancer diagnosis and treatment, including tumor genomic profiling, biomarkers, artificial intelligence, immunotherapy and modern radiation therapy techniques.
Dragan Primorac, President of the Croatian Society for Precision Medicine, emphasized that artificial intelligence enables more effective analysis of molecular data, opening up new possibilities for earlier disease detection, more accurate diagnosis and the selection of individualized therapies.
Advanced Treatment While Preserving Quality of Life
Heath Skinner from the University of Pittsburgh highlighted that advances in radiation therapy allow for more precise and safer treatment, aiming to improve patient outcomes while preserving quality of life.
Eduard Vrdoljak, President of the Croatian Society of Medical Oncology, addressed challenges facing Croatia’s healthcare system, emphasizing the need to strengthen prevention, early cancer detection and equal access to modern treatments.
“The most important message of this Forum is that innovations only change lives when they reach people,” said Joel Nelson, President of UPMC International.
The forum followed the opening of the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Zabok, Croatia, where patients have access to advanced radiation therapy, medical oncology and PET/CT diagnostic services. Some procedures are also available through cooperation with the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (HZZO).
Participants concluded that the future of cancer care depends not only on new technologies but also on ensuring that all patients have timely access to them.
Source: Hina, November 3, 2026.
