Cem Demirkiran, MD
Postdoctoral AssociateAbout
Research
Publications
2025
A phase 2 trial of pembrolizumab for recurrent Lynch-like versus sporadic endometrial cancers with microsatellite instability (NCT02899793): Updated survival and response analyses
Ettorre V, Bellone S, Greenman M, McNamara B, Palmieri L, Sethi N, Demirkiran C, Papatla K, Kailasam A, Siegel E, Ratner E, Santin A. A phase 2 trial of pembrolizumab for recurrent Lynch-like versus sporadic endometrial cancers with microsatellite instability (NCT02899793): Updated survival and response analyses. Gynecologic Oncology 2025, 197: 110-115. PMID: 40334308, DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2025.04.591.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchProgression free survivalWhole-exome sequencingImmune checkpoint inhibitorsOverall survivalEndometrial cancerMicrosatellite instability-highCheckpoint inhibitorsFree survivalFollow-upResponse to immune checkpoint inhibitorsPatients treated with pembrolizumabProspective phase II studyExome sequencingResponse rateRecurrent platinum-resistantPhase II studyPhase 2 trialOverall survival dataEndometrial cancer patientsMLH-1MSI-H patientsFoundationOne platformImproved OSUpdate survivalPrognostic significancePreclinical Activity of Datopotamab Deruxtecan, an Antibody-Drug Conjugate Targeting Trophoblast Cell-Surface Antigen 2, in Uterine Serous Carcinoma.
Greenman M, Demirkiran C, Bellone S, Hartwich T, McNamara B, Ettorre V, Santin N, Sethi N, Yang-Hartwich Y, Papatla K, Ratner E, Santin A. Preclinical Activity of Datopotamab Deruxtecan, an Antibody-Drug Conjugate Targeting Trophoblast Cell-Surface Antigen 2, in Uterine Serous Carcinoma. Cancer Research Communications 2025, 5: 774-782. PMID: 40299780, PMCID: PMC12062949, DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-25-0057.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTrophoblast cell surface antigen 2Uterine serous carcinomaAntibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicityAntibody-drug conjugatesCell-mediated cytotoxicitySerous carcinomaPreclinical activityCell linesTargets trophoblast cell-surface antigen-2Presence of peripheral blood lymphocytesTreatment of uterine serous carcinomaInduce antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicityPrimary USC cell linesRecurrent uterine serous carcinomaUSC xenograftsUterine serous carcinoma cell linesAntigen 2In vivoPrimary tumor cell linesTROP2 overexpressionBiomarker-targeted therapiesControl ADCChromium release assayHigher recurrence rateTumor growth suppressionActivity Restrictions After Midurethral Sling: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Alvarez P, Demirkiran C, Rickey L, Lundsberg L, Harmanli O. Activity Restrictions After Midurethral Sling: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Urogynecology 2025 PMID: 40105744, DOI: 10.1097/spv.0000000000001679.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchStress urinary incontinenceMUS surgeryPostoperative activity restrictionsPatient satisfactionUrinary incontinenceMidurethral sling (MUSActivity restrictionRandomized clinical trialsSatisfaction scoresActivity 3 weeksRandomized controlled trialsStatically significant differenceMidurethral slingIncontinence symptomsSurgical successPostoperative visitSurgical outcomesBaseline characteristicsHigh satisfactionHigher satisfaction scoresHigh-impact activitiesClinical trialsPrimary outcomeSurgeryPatient satisfaction scale
2023
In Vivo and In Vitro Efficacy of Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in Uterine Serous Carcinoma.
Mutlu L, Manavella D, Bellone S, McNamara B, Harold J, Mauricio D, Siegel E, Buza N, Hui P, Hartwich T, Yang-Hartwich Y, Demirkiran C, Verzosa M, Altwerger G, Ratner E, Huang G, Clark M, Andikyan V, Azodi M, Dottino P, Schwartz P, Santin A. In Vivo and In Vitro Efficacy of Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in Uterine Serous Carcinoma. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 2023, 22: 1404-1412. PMID: 37676984, DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-23-0126.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsUterine serous carcinomaAntibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicityT-DXdUSC patientsUSC cell linesTrastuzumab deruxtecanSerous carcinomaHER2 expressionClinical trialsRecurrent uterine serous carcinomaTopoisomerase I inhibitor payloadSignificant antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicityCell linesMultiple tumor indicationsPrimary USC cell linesLow HER2 expressionFuture clinical trialsHigh recurrence ratePeripheral blood lymphocytesERBB2 gene amplificationGrowth suppressionHER2-overexpressing cell linesTumor growth suppressionOverall survivalStandard chemotherapyUterine Leiomyosarcomas harboring MAP2K4 gene amplification are markedly sensitive in vivo to PLX8725, a Novel MAP2K4 Inhibitor (1315)
McNamara B, Harold J, Manavella D, Bellone S, Mutlu L, Hartwich T, Zipponi M, Yang-Hartwich Y, Demirkiran C, Verzosa M, Choi J, Dong W, Buza N, Hui P, Altwerger G, Huang G, Andikyan V, Clark M, Ratner E, Azodi M, Schwartz P, Schlessinger J, Santin A. Uterine Leiomyosarcomas harboring MAP2K4 gene amplification are markedly sensitive in vivo to PLX8725, a Novel MAP2K4 Inhibitor (1315). Gynecologic Oncology 2023, 176: s193. DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2023.06.218.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTrastuzumab deruxtecan in recurrent uterine serous carcinoma resistant to trastuzmab based-chemotherapy
McNamara B, Bellone S, Demirkiran C, Hartwich T, Santin A. Trastuzumab deruxtecan in recurrent uterine serous carcinoma resistant to trastuzmab based-chemotherapy. Gynecologic Oncology Reports 2023, 48: 101219. PMID: 37325293, PMCID: PMC10265462, DOI: 10.1016/j.gore.2023.101219.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchUterine serous carcinomaHER2/neuSerous carcinomaT-DXdTreatment optionsRecurrent uterine serous carcinomaDose-limiting side effectEffective treatment optionNew treatment optionsBone painRecurrent diseaseDurable responsesTrastuzumab deruxtecanCA 125Disease burdenSide effectsCarcinomaAntibody drugsTreatmentSignificant reductionDiseaseNeuExperimental treatmentsMetastaticPainPembrolizumab and lenvatinib in recurrent ovarian clear cell carcinoma resistant to chemotherapy
McNamara B, Bellone S, Demirkiran C, Hartwich T, Santin A. Pembrolizumab and lenvatinib in recurrent ovarian clear cell carcinoma resistant to chemotherapy. Gynecologic Oncology Reports 2023, 48: 101218. PMID: 37325296, PMCID: PMC10265468, DOI: 10.1016/j.gore.2023.101218.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchOvarian clear cell carcinomaClear cell carcinomaCombination of pembrolizumabCell carcinomaTreatment optionsRecurrent ovarian clear cell carcinomaWeeks of therapyCT scan findingsMild side effectsEffective treatment optionOral multikinase inhibitorNew treatment optionsDurable responsesMetastatic diseaseScan findingsPD-1Disease burdenTarget lesionsMultikinase inhibitorDrug combinationsSide effectsPembrolizumabLenvatinibMonoclonal antibodiesCarcinomaMonitoring Treatment Response, Early Recurrence, and Survival in Uterine Serous Carcinoma and Carcinosarcoma Patients Using Personalized Circulating Tumor DNA Biomarkers
Bellone S, McNamara B, Mutlu L, Demirkiran C, Hartwich T, Harold J, Yang-Hartwich Y, Siegel E, Santin A. Monitoring Treatment Response, Early Recurrence, and Survival in Uterine Serous Carcinoma and Carcinosarcoma Patients Using Personalized Circulating Tumor DNA Biomarkers. International Journal Of Molecular Sciences 2023, 24: 8873. PMID: 37240216, PMCID: PMC10219151, DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108873.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsUterine serous carcinomaCS patientsEarly recurrenceDroplet digital polymerase chain reactionCA 125Serous carcinomaCtDNA testingTime of surgeryTime of recurrenceReliable tumor biomarkersTumour DNA biomarkersCarcinosarcoma patientsUSC patientsRecurrent diseaseOccult diseaseOverall survivalEndometrial cancerAggressive variantInitial treatmentRecurrent tumorsResidual tumorClinical findingsTreatment courseTreatment trialsPIK3CA mutationsUterine leiomyosarcomas harboring MAP2K4 gene amplification are sensitive in vivo to PLX8725, a novel MAP2K4 inhibitor
McNamara B, Harold J, Manavella D, Bellone S, Mutlu L, Hartwich T, Zipponi M, Yang-Hartwich Y, Demirkiran C, Verzosa M, Yang K, Choi J, Dong W, Buza N, Hui P, Altwerger G, Huang G, Andikyan V, Clark M, Ratner E, Azodi M, Schwartz P, Burton E, Inagaki H, Albers A, Zhang C, Bollag G, Schlessinger J, Santin A. Uterine leiomyosarcomas harboring MAP2K4 gene amplification are sensitive in vivo to PLX8725, a novel MAP2K4 inhibitor. Gynecologic Oncology 2023, 172: 65-71. PMID: 36958197, PMCID: PMC10192120, DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2023.03.009.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsUterine leiomyosarcomaPDX modelsGain of functionMedian overall survivalPhase I trialOral gavage dailyVivo activityTumor growth inhibitionTumor volume differencesTumor cell proliferationOverall survivalTolerable toxicityI trialOral treatmentTreatment cohortsGavage dailyAggressive tumorsSCID miceULMS patientsPK studiesTumor samplesWestern blotCell proliferationControl vehicleLeiomyosarcomaCorrigendum to “Elimusertib (BAY1895344), a novel ATR inhibitor, demonstrates in vivo activity in ATRX mutated models of uterine leiomyosarcoma”
Harold J, Bellone S, Manavell D, Mutlu L, McNamara B, Hartwich T, Zipponi M, Yang-Hartwich Y, Demirkiran C, Verzosa M, Choi J, Dong W, Buza N, Hui P, Altwerger G, Huang G, Andikyan V, Clark M, Ratner E, Azodi M, Schwartz P, Santin A. Corrigendum to “Elimusertib (BAY1895344), a novel ATR inhibitor, demonstrates in vivo activity in ATRX mutated models of uterine leiomyosarcoma”. Gynecologic Oncology 2023, 170: 334. PMID: 36906375, PMCID: PMC10266020, DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2023.01.029.Peer-Reviewed Original Research