Summary of 3rd OSSC

12.03.2021

Over 100 participants from Polish and European medical universities, interested in oncology and related fields of medicine attended the 3rd Oncological Student Scientific Conference (OSSC) which was organized online on 5-6th March 2021. The entire conference was held in English.

On the first day of OSSC, the participants had a chance to attend five different online workshops. The students could improve their theoretical knowledge and problem-solving skills in clinical cases interactive workshops on clinical oncology (led by Artur Bandura M.D.), pediatric oncology (Agnieszka Budka-Chrzęszczyk) and hematology (Michał Czarnogórski M.D.). Moreover, the students could also take part in doctor-patient communication workshops (Milena Lachowicz Ph.D.) and workshops on writing systematic reviews (Piotr Spychalski Ph.D.).

On the second day of the conference, the keynote lectures were delivered by: Beata Lipska-Ziętkiewicz, M.D., Ph.D., Assoc. Professor: Orphan diseases presenting as cancer – what a geneticist can tell you?, Maciej Bobowicz M.D. Ph.D.: Artificial Intelligence in Cancer Imaging, Marcin Skrzypski M.D., Ph.D., Assoc. Professor: Cancer Cachexia: Prognostic Significance of Body Composition Changes in Lung Cancer and Małgorzata Krawczyk M.D., Ph.D.: Red flags in pediatric cancer – practical hints for a young doctor?.

During the second day of the conference, three competitive sessions of student presentations were also conducted. The works of 16 students were selected for presentation from 36 submitted abstracts. All the presentations raised important oncological aspects, were professionally prepared and presented in an interesting way. The Grand Prix, four prizes for the winners of each session and three distinctions were awarded.

Prizes:

• Julia Smentoch (Medical University of Gdansk) – Automated EpCAM-based quantification of tumor-to-stroma ratio might improve prognostication of prostate cancer – Grand Prix, 1st place in the Original research – clinical session,
• Anna Rekowska (Medical University of Lublin) – Erlotinib treatment in patient with lung adenocarcinoma and Coronavirus Disease 2019 – 1st place in the Case reports session,
• Justyna Topa (Medical University of Gdansk) – Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition features in viable circulating tumor cells in breast cancer patients – 1st place ex aequo in the Original research – preclinical session,
• Bartosz Sobocki (Medical University of Gdansk) – SNAIL as a potential diagnostic factor in oral squamous cell carcinoma – 1st place ex aequo in the Original research – preclinical session.

Distinctions:

• Katarzyna Barańska (Medical University of Gdansk) – Work, life, breast cancer – boosting patients’ return to work by rehamanager,
• Zuzanna Gromek (Medical University of Gdansk) – The role of advanced platelet rich fibrin (A-PRF) in the treatment of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw – a case report,
• Nishmita Shetty (Medical University of Gdansk) – Unusual cause of recurrent vomiting in a 2-year-old child with gastric tumor and left hydronephrosis.

The 3rd OSSC committee was formed by students of the English Division Pediatric Oncology Scientific Circle. The president of the organizing committee and the coordinator of the activities was a student of the MUG Marlon Souza Luis (Medical Faculty ED, V year). The circle supervisors are Professor Ewa Bień, M.D., Ph.D. and Małgorzata Krawczyk, M.D., Ph.D. from the Department of Paediatrics, Haemathology and Oncology of the MUG. The event was held under the patronage of Rector of the MUG Professor Marcin Gruchała.