Cem Demirkiran, MD
Postdoctoral AssociateAbout
Titles
Postdoctoral Associate
Biography
Dr. Demirkiran is a dedicated medical professional and researcher who joined Yale University in 2021 to advance his passion for cancer research. As a core member of the Santin Lab, he has contributed significantly to both ex vivo and in vivo experiments, focusing on innovative approaches to cancer therapeutics.
In his role at the lab, Dr. Demirkiran utilized his expertise in mouse models, flow cytometry, ex vivo experiments, and statistical analysis to drive impactful research. His work, under the guidance of Dr. Santin and in collaboration with the lab team, has advanced the understanding of cancer biology, supported one pharmaceutical company in its pursuit of FDA approval for a cutting-edge cancer treatment, and contributed to ongoing research aimed at developing other therapeutic strategies for additional companies.
Dr. Demirkiran is also an active member of one of the oldest and largest scientific organizations in the world, exemplifying his dedication to collaboration and advancement within the global scientific community.
With a passion for translational medicine and innovation, Dr. Demirkiran continues to bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and clinical applications. His contributions to the field reflect a steadfast commitment to improving patient outcomes and advancing cancer treatment strategies.
Education & Training
- MD
- Acibadem University School of Medicine (2021)
Research
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Alessandro Santin, MD
Stefania Bellone, PhD
Yang Yang, PhD
Mitchell Clark, MD, MPH
Elena Ratner, MD, MBA
Natalia Buza, MD
Publications
2024
Preclinical evaluation of avutometinib and defactinib in high‐grade endometrioid endometrial cancer
Hartwich T, Mansolf M, Demirkiran C, Greenman M, Bellone S, McNamara B, Nandi S, Alexandrov L, Yang‐Hartwich Y, Coma S, Pachter J, Santin A. Preclinical evaluation of avutometinib and defactinib in high‐grade endometrioid endometrial cancer. Cancer Medicine 2024, 13: e70210. PMID: 39240189, PMCID: PMC11378359, DOI: 10.1002/cam4.70210.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsMeSH KeywordsAnimalsAntineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy ProtocolsBenzamidesCarcinoma, EndometrioidCell Line, TumorCell ProliferationEndometrial NeoplasmsExome SequencingFemaleFocal Adhesion Kinase 1HumansImidazolesMiceNeoplasm GradingOxazepinesProtein Kinase InhibitorsPyrazinesSulfonamidesXenograft Model Antitumor AssaysConceptsFocal adhesion kinaseWhole-exome sequencingEndometrial cancer cell linesVS-4718Cell linesRas/MAPK pathwayPhosphorylated focal adhesion kinaseWestern blot assayWhole-exome sequencing resultsRAF/MEK inhibitionEAC cell linesBlot assayP-FAKGenetic landscapeCell cycleEndometrial cancerGenetic derangementsDefactinibP-MEKGrowth inhibitionRAF/MEKRas/MAPKCell viabilityP-ERKHigh-grade endometrial cancerSacituzumab govitecan in heavily pretreated, platinum-resistant high grade serous ovarian cancer
Greenman M, Bellone S, Demirkiran C, Hartwich T, Santin A. Sacituzumab govitecan in heavily pretreated, platinum-resistant high grade serous ovarian cancer. Gynecologic Oncology Reports 2024, 54: 101459. PMID: 39108617, PMCID: PMC11300917, DOI: 10.1016/j.gore.2024.101459.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsHigh grade serous ovarian cancerAntibody-drug conjugatesSerous ovarian cancerSacituzumab govitecanOvarian cancerTreatment optionsPlatinum-resistant ovarian cancer patientsDose-limiting toxicityOvarian cancer patientsNovel treatment optionsPartial responseRecurrent diseaseDose reductionCancer patientsClinical trialsBackground treatmentTargeted treatmentChemotherapyTreatmentCancerDoseDiseaseOptionsTrop2PatientsPreclinical activity of datopotamab deruxtecan, a novel TROP2 directed antibody-drug conjugate targeting trophoblast cell-surface antigen 2 (TROP2) in ovarian carcinoma
McNamara B, Greenman M, Bellone S, Santin L, Demirkiran C, Mutlu L, Hartwich T, Yang-Hartwich Y, Ratner E, Schwartz P, Santin A. Preclinical activity of datopotamab deruxtecan, a novel TROP2 directed antibody-drug conjugate targeting trophoblast cell-surface antigen 2 (TROP2) in ovarian carcinoma. Gynecologic Oncology 2024, 189: 16-23. PMID: 38981151, DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2024.07.002.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsTargets trophoblast cell-surface antigen-2Epithelial ovarian cancerAntibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicityPreclinical activityAntibody drug conjugatesOvarian cancerCell linesTumor cellsTrophoblast cell surface antigen 2Cell line-derived xenograft modelFlow cytometryCompared to tumor cellsEpithelial ovarian cancer cell linesOvarian cancer cell linesTumor cells in vitroOvarian cancer patientsPeripheral-blood lymphocytesEOC cell linesTumor growth suppressionAnnexin V-positiveGynecologic cancer mortalityIn vivo antitumor activityCells in vitroPrimary cell linesUnmet medical needTrastuzumab deruxtecan (DS-8201a), a HER2-targeting antibody–drug conjugate, demonstrates in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity against primary and metastatic ovarian tumors overexpressing HER2
Mutlu L, McNamara B, Bellone S, Manavella D, Demirkiran C, Greenman M, Verzosa M, Buza N, Hui P, Hartwich T, Harold J, Yang-Hartwich Y, Zipponi M, Altwerger G, Ratner E, Huang G, Clark M, Andikyan V, Azodi M, Schwartz P, Santin A. Trastuzumab deruxtecan (DS-8201a), a HER2-targeting antibody–drug conjugate, demonstrates in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity against primary and metastatic ovarian tumors overexpressing HER2. Clinical & Experimental Metastasis 2024, 41: 765-775. PMID: 38909139, DOI: 10.1007/s10585-024-10297-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHigh-grade serous ovarian cancerClear cell carcinomaHER2-targeting antibody-drug conjugateAntibody-drug conjugatesT-DXdReceptor over-expressionTrastuzumab deruxtecanXenograft modelCell linesOvarian clear cell carcinomaOvarian cancer cell linesTumors overexpressing HER2Biologically aggressive tumorsFluorescence in situ hybridization assaySerous ovarian cancerEffective antibody-drug conjugatesIn vivo antitumor activityMouse xenograft modelMetastatic cell linesDS-8201aCancer cell linesAggressive tumorsHER2 expressionCell carcinomaOvarian cancerPreclinical in vitro and in vivo activity of the RAF/MEK clamp avutometinib in combination with FAK inhibition in uterine carcinosarcomas
Demirkiran C, Greenman M, Bellone S, McNamara B, Hartwich T, Manavella D, Mutlu L, Zipponi M, Yang-Hartwich Y, Yang K, Ratner E, Schwartz P, Coma S, Pachter J, Santin A. Preclinical in vitro and in vivo activity of the RAF/MEK clamp avutometinib in combination with FAK inhibition in uterine carcinosarcomas. Gynecologic Oncology 2024, 187: 12-20. PMID: 38703673, DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2024.04.010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsFocal adhesion kinaseUC cell linesWhole-exome-sequencingFAK inhibitorCell linesFocal adhesion kinase inhibitionPhosphorylated (p)‑FAKWestern blot assayRAF/MEK inhibitionUterine carcinosarcomaRAS/MAPK pathway genesPreclinical in vitroBlot assayVS-4718Cell cycle assayGenetic landscapePathway genesMAP2KGenetic alterationsDecreased p-ERKCycle assaySuperior tumor growth inhibitionBiologically aggressive tumorsGrowth inhibitionIn vitro activityIntegrated mutational landscape analysis of poorly differentiated high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix
Bellone S, Jeong K, Halle M, Krakstad C, McNamara B, Greenman M, Mutlu L, Demirkiran C, Hartwich T, Yang-Hartwich Y, Zipponi M, Buza N, Hui P, Raspagliesi F, Lopez S, Paolini B, Milione M, Perrone E, Scambia G, Altwerger G, Ravaggi A, Bignotti E, Huang G, Andikyan V, Clark M, Ratner E, Azodi M, Schwartz P, Quick C, Angioli R, Terranova C, Zaidi S, Nandi S, Alexandrov L, Siegel E, Choi J, Schlessinger J, Santin A. Integrated mutational landscape analysis of poorly differentiated high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2024, 121: e2321898121. PMID: 38625939, PMCID: PMC11046577, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2321898121.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsWhole-exome sequencingPatient-derived-xenograftsBase excision repairCopy number lossMultiregion whole-exome sequencingCopy number gainHigh-grade neuroendocrine carcinomaCNV analysisPhylogenetic analysisEvolutionary historyNeuroendocrine cervical cancerHuman papillomavirus DNAMutator phenotypeSensitivity to afatinibGenetic landscapeRecurrent mutationsRNA sequencingGene fusionsMutational landscape analysisExcision repairGenesMutationsPan-HERConsistent with deficiencyNeuroendocrine carcinomaPreclinical efficacy of RAF/MEK clamp avutometinib in combination with FAK inhibition in low grade serous ovarian cancer
McNamara B, Demirkiran C, Hartwich T, Bellone S, Manavella D, Mutlu L, Greenman M, Zipponi M, Yang-Hartwich Y, Yang K, Ratner E, Schwartz P, Coma S, Pachter J, Santin A. Preclinical efficacy of RAF/MEK clamp avutometinib in combination with FAK inhibition in low grade serous ovarian cancer. Gynecologic Oncology 2024, 183: 133-140. PMID: 38493021, DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2024.01.028.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsLow grade serous ovarian carcinomaWhole-exome-sequencingGain-of-function mutationsVS-4718Preclinical efficacyLow grade serous ovarian cancerSerous ovarian cancerControl-treated miceTumor growth inhibitionWild-type KRASLoss of heterozygosityDecreased p-ERKRAF/MEK inhibitionMedian survivalOvarian cancerRecurrence rateTherapeutic optionsOral gavageTumor growthTumor samplesIn vivo activityMAPK pathway genesRAF/MEK inhibitorsP-ERKEx vivoMitochondrial Unfolded Protein Response Gene Clpp Is Required for Oocyte Function and Female Fertility
Ergun Y, Imamoglu A, Cozzolino M, Demirkiran C, Basar M, Garg A, Yildirim R, Seli E. Mitochondrial Unfolded Protein Response Gene Clpp Is Required for Oocyte Function and Female Fertility. International Journal Of Molecular Sciences 2024, 25: 1866. PMID: 38339144, PMCID: PMC10855406, DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031866.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsCaseinolytic peptidase PMouse modelProtein homeostasisStress responseUnfolded protein stress responseProtein stress responseCumulus/granulosa cellsOocyte competenceOocyte functionGlobal deletionFunctional abnormalitiesGenes clpPMetabolic stress responseFemale subfertilityFemale infertilityOocyte-specificOocytesReproductive functionMtUPRMiceProtein degradationReproductive competenceFemale fertilityDeletionHomeostasis
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 ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsUterine 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 chemotherapyTrastuzumab 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 ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsUterine 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 treatmentsMetastaticPain