Our laboratory is interested in exploring the mechanisms of apoptotic resistance and invasiveness of aggressive brain cancers, specifically Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM). GBMs are among the most malignant tumors with extremely poor prognosis, with a mean survival of less than 15 months after diagnosis. Therapy resistance and extreme invasiveness are among the root causes of therapeutic failure for GBMs. Our research projects are focused on the following areas:
Prof. Dr. Ihsan Solaroglu, Koç University
Research
THERAPY RESISTANCE and EPIGENETICS
While most therapeutic agents are directed to keep tumor cell proliferation under control, very few agents aim to reactivate the dormant or inactive apoptotic pathways in tumor cells. After the initial discovery of TRAIL (Apo2L) as an apoptotic molecule, its promise as a therapeutic agent has become evident by its tumor-specific action. While the TRAIL-based agents have clinical potential, their broad applicability is likely limited by several factors, mainly, the innate or acquired resistance of many tumors to TRAIL. Clinical applicability of TRAIL will be dependent on our ability to find ways to overcome such resistance to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis.
MECHANISM OF TUMOR CELL INVASION
Malignant brain tumors, such as GBMs have diffuse tumor borders. A major obstacle in treating GBMs is the extensive tumor cell infiltration into the surrounding brain. Despite tumor resection and combined therapy, recurrence occurs in the vicinity of the resection margin due to individual cells that dispersed out of the primary tumor mass. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms that contribute to GBM cell dispersal is crucial for developing effective therapies. To this end, we are utilizing noninvasive imaging techniques, genome editing tools and in vitro and in vivo high throughput screening strategies to identify novel mechanisms of GBM cell infiltration.
Our collaborators
At Koç University:
Dr. Tamer ÖNDER http://scl.ku.edu.tr/
Dr. Nathan LACK https://lacklab.ku.edu.tr
Dr. İhsan SOLAROĞLU
Dr. Seda KIZILEL http://home.ku.edu.tr/~skizilel/
Dr. Demircan CANADİNÇ http://home.ku.edu.tr/~dcanadinc/
Dr. Serçin KARAHÜSEYİNOĞLU
Outside Koç University:
Dr. Hiroaki WAKIMOTO, Massachusetts General Hospital
http://www.massgeneral.org/neurosurgery/research/researchlab.aspx?id=1500Dr. Mazhar ADLI, University of Virginia
http://faculty.virginia.edu/adli/Dr. Zeynep Hulya GÜMÜŞ, Mount Sinai Hospital
http://research.mssm.edu/gumuslab/Dr. Udo OPPERMANN, Oxford University
https://www.medsci.ox.ac.uk/study/graduateschool/supervisors/udo-oppermann
Fundings
KOÇ UNIVERSITY School of Medicine
TÜBİTAK
EMBO
MARIE CURIE
BAGEP
LOREAL WOMEN IN SCIENCE
Links
Koç University https://www.ku.edu.tr
Koç University School of Medicine https://medicine.ku.edu.tr/
Koç University Research Center For Translational Medicine (KUTTAM) https://kuttam.ku.edu.tr/en/
Koç University Hospital https://kuh.ku.edu.tr/en
Koç University Bioimaging Center https://kubic.ku.edu.tr/
Koç University Animal Research Facility https://kuarf.ku.edu.tr/
Koç University Proteomics Facility https://cell-proteomics.ku.edu.tr/protein-facility
Koç University Surface Science and Technology Center https://kuytam.ku.edu.tr/home
Societies
ICDS - International Cell Death Society
SNO - Society for Neurooncology
AACR - American Association for Cancer Research
ISSCR - International Society for Stem Cell Research
MBD - Molekuler Biyoloji Dernegi