At Global Voices in Renal Oncology (VIRO) 2025, organized by OncoDaily, Dr. Iva Nikles, Medical Oncology Resident at Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital Center, delivered a talk on “The Current State of Renal Oncology in Croatia”.
At Global Voices in Renal Oncology (VIRO) 2025, organized by OncoDaily, Dr. Iva Nikles, Medical Oncology Resident at Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital Center, gave a comprehensive overview of “The Current State of Renal Oncology in Croatia.” She outlined the national burden of kidney cancer, with approximately 950 new cases annually and a male-to-female ratio of 2:1.
Croatia’s EU membership has significantly improved access to therapies, enabling the reimbursement of modern immunotherapy combinations (e.g., nivolumab–ipilimumab, pembrolizumab-based regimens) and multiple TKIs in both first- and second-line settings.
Nephron-sparing, laparoscopic, and robotic surgeries are also available in major centers, while MDT discussions are mandatory for initiating immunotherapy. Despite this progress, Dr. Nikles highlighted persistent systemic barriers: shortages of oncology nurses, pathologists, and oncologists; limited clinical trial activity; and the lack of formal outcome measurement across malignancies. She concluded by stressing the need for better staffing, stronger trial participation, and structured data collection to further advance renal oncology care in Croatia.
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