Leon Marković

Full Citation: Marković L, Bukovac A, Varošanec AM, et al. Expression of Wnt signaling proteins LEF1, β-catenin, GSK3β, DVL1, and N-myc varies across retinoblastoma subtypes and pRb phosphorylation status. Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):31725.

Medicine allows me to combine curiosity, critical thinking, and practical skills to understand the body, mind, and disease, using this knowledge to make a meaningful difference in people’s health and well-being. The continuous learning and discovery in this field, together with the opportunity to help patients achieve better health, motivates me every day to grow and contribute meaningfully to medical science and clinical care, while striving to positively impact the lives of those I treat.

Leon Marković, MD, PhD, currently works as a board-certified ophthalmologist at University Hospital Sveti Duh. 

Dr. Marković’s main field of interest are the diseases of the posterior eye segment. For more than 15 years, he has investigated Wnt signaling in tumors at the Croatian Institute for Brain Research. He earned his PhD in Neuroscience with a focus on Wnt signaling in human retinoblastoma and has published several scientific papers on this topic. Alongside ophthalmology and neuro-oncology, his interests also include computer science and artificial intelligence, contributing to additional research publications.

Decoding Wnt Signaling to Enable Personalized Treatment of Retinoblastoma

Dr. Marković’s awarded research provides new molecular insight into retinoblastoma, the most common primary intraocular tumor in children, by comprehensively mapping Wnt signaling proteins in these tumors for the first time.

By analyzing key pathways involved in cell growth and survival – including LEF1, β-catenin, GSK3β, DVL1, and N-myc – the study shows that Wnt pathway activity varies across retinoblastoma subtypes and pRb phosphorylation status. Importantly, the work identifies a distinct MYCN-amplified subgroup characterized by different biomarker patterns, representing a major step forward for personalized medicine. 

These findings help explain differences in tumor aggressiveness and treatment response and open the possibility of future pathway-targeted therapies, as experimental Wnt-directed agents already exist. Clinically, the research suggests that retinoblastoma diagnostics could include molecular profiling to better stratify risk and identify children most likely to benefit from novel biologic treatments, supporting earlier diagnosis, more precise therapy selection and the potential to improve outcomes while reducing unnecessary treatment and long-term side effects.

Overall, the study advances understanding of retinoblastoma pathogenesis and proposes innovative therapeutic avenues for this malignant ocular tumor.

Curiosity, Research and Family at the Center

For Dr. Marković, medicine offers a unique combination of curiosity, critical thinking and practical impact. He is motivated by the opportunity to help patients in tangible ways – seeing children benefit from therapies informed by research gives him purpose and energy, even when the work is challenging.

Outside of medicine, he stays active through triathlon, cycling and skiing. Above all, he cherishes time with his wife and daughter, which brings perspective, balance and inspiration to his daily life.

Being selected as a finalist for the International Medis Awards represents a meaningful personal and professional recognition. For Dr. Marković, it affirms the dedication invested in both research and clinical practice and encourages him to continue pursuing discoveries that can translate into better care for young patients.