Merve Keskinkilic | Medical Oncology | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Merve Keskinkilic | Medical Oncology | Best Researcher Award

Medical Oncologist, Izmir Democracy University Buca Seyfi Demirsoy Training and Research Hospital Turkey

Merve Keskinkılıç is a dedicated Medical Oncologist at Burdur State Hospital with a strong academic background in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology. She earned her M.D. from Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine and completed her Medical Oncology Fellowship at the same institution. Dr. Keskinkılıç has extensive clinical experience, having served as a Research Fellow at Emory University, USA. Fluent in English (C1 Advanced) and proficient in German (Elementary), she actively participates in international oncology research. Her expertise includes clinical trials, cancer treatment strategies, and translational oncology research, contributing significantly to advancements in the field.

Publication Profile

Scopus

Scholar

🎓 Education

Dr. Keskinkılıç completed her high school education at Balıkesir Science High School (2004-2008) before pursuing medicine at Dokuz Eylul University (2008-2014). She participated in an Oncology Exchange Program at Mansoura University, Egypt (2010). She later obtained an Associate Degree in Healthcare Management from Anadolu University (2014-2017). Her residency in Internal Medicine was completed at Celal Bayar University (2015-2016) and Dokuz Eylul University (2016-2019). She pursued a Medical Oncology Fellowship at Dokuz Eylul University (2019-2024) and is currently undertaking a PhD in Basic Oncology at Dokuz Eylul University Oncology Institute (since 2022). She also worked as a Research Fellow at Emory University, USA (2023).

💼 Experience

Dr. Keskinkılıç began her career as a General Practitioner at Balıkesir Susurluk State Hospital (2014-2015) before becoming a Research Assistant in Internal Medicine at Celal Bayar University (2015-2016) and later at Dokuz Eylul University (2016-2019). She served as a Specialist Doctor at Bitlis Mutki State Hospital (2019) and as a Fellow in Medical Oncology at Dokuz Eylul University (2019-2024). Currently, she is a Medical Oncologist at Burdur Public Hospital (2024-2025) and will join Izmir Democracy University Buca Seyfi Demirsoy Training and Research Hospital in 2025.

🏆 Awards & Honors

Dr. Keskinkılıç holds several prestigious certifications, including the Turkish Board of Internal Medicine Certificate (2018), Experimental Animal Use Certificate (2019), Oncology Clinical Research Training Certificate (2020), and ESMO Board of Examination Certificate (2023). She has also completed Good Clinical Practices (ICU) and Clinical Research Training and has received certifications in Research Ethics and Clinical Trials. Her contributions to oncology research and education have been recognized through multiple national and international accolades.

🔬 Research Focus

Dr. Keskinkılıç specializes in clinical oncology research, focusing on urothelial, bladder, gastric, prostate, and lung cancers. She is actively involved in multiple clinical trials, serving as a Sub-Investigator in research projects such as THOR (Urothelial Cancer), Niagara (Bladder Cancer), MK3475-859 (Gastric Cancer), Regeneron (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer), and Radiant 20510 (Prostate Cancer). Her work emphasizes innovative treatment strategies, immunotherapy, and targeted cancer therapies, contributing to the development of advanced oncological treatments. Her internal medicine dissertation evaluated CMV DNA Antigenemia in Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplant Patients.

Publication Top Notes

  • Efficacy of subsequent treatments in patients with hormone-positive advanced breast cancer who had disease progression under CDK 4/6 inhibitor therapy
    • Authors: C. Karacin, B. Oksuzoglu, A. Demirci, M. Keskinkılıç, et al.
    • Journal: BMC Cancer, 2023
    • Citations: 20

 

  • Treatment efficacy of ribociclib or palbociclib plus letrozole in hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer
    • Authors: S. Kahraman, E. Erul, M. Seyyar, O. Gumusay, et al.
    • Journal: Future Oncology, 2023
    • Citations: 13

 

  • Clinical outcomes of cyclin-dependent kinase 4–6 (CDK 4–6) inhibitors in patients with male breast cancer: a multicenter study
    • Authors: H. Ç. Yıldırım, E. Mutlu, E. Chalabiyev, M. Özen, et al.
    • Journal: The Breast, 2022
    • Citations: 13

 

  • The effect of low HER2 expression on treatment outcomes in metastatic hormone receptor-positive breast cancer patients treated with a combination of a CDK4/6 inhibitor and…
    • Authors: E. C. Yildirim, E. Atag, E. Coban, et al.
    • Journal: The Breast, 2023
    • Citations: 12

 

  • Efficacy of first-line CDK 4-6 inhibitors in premenopausal patients with metastatic breast cancer and the effect of dose reduction due to treatment-related neutropenia
    • Authors: H. C. Yildirim, C. Kapar, B. Koksal, et al.
    • Journal: Journal of Chemotherapy, 2024
    • Citations: 4

 

  • The prognostic indicator in breast cancer treated with CDK4/6 inhibitors: the prognostic nutritional index
    • Authors: M. Keskinkilic, H. S. Semiz, G. Polat, et al.
    • Journal: Future Oncology, 2023
    • Citations: 4

 

  • Antibody-Drug Conjugates in Triple Negative Breast Cancer
    • Authors: M. Keskinkilic, R. Sacks
    • Journal: Clinical Breast Cancer, 2024
    • Citations: 3

 

  • 194P Increased blood creatinine level due to CDK 4/6 inhibitor treatments: single center experience
    • Authors: M. Keskinkılıç, H. S. Semiz, T. Yavuzsen, A. Karaoglu
    • Journal: Annals of Oncology, 2022
    • Citations: 3

 

  • The prognostic nutritional index (PNI): A new biomarker for determining prognosis in metastatic castration-sensitive prostate carcinoma
    • Authors: H. I. Ellez, M. Keskinkilic, et al.
    • Journal: Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2023
    • Citations: 11

 

  • The role of immune checkpoint inhibition in triple-negative breast cancer
    • Authors: K. Tarekegn, M. Keskinkilic, T. J. Kristoff, S. T. Evans, K. Kalinsky
    • Journal: Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy, 2023
    • Citations: 10

 

  • The percentage of ALK-positive cells and the efficacy of first-line alectinib in advanced non-small cell lung cancer
    • Authors: M. Hizal, B. Bilgin, N. Paksoy, et al.
    • Journal: Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology, 2023
    • Citations: 5

 

  • CD47 (‘don’t eat me’ signal) expression levels and its relationship with clinicopathologic features in early‐stage prostate carcinoma
    • Authors: H. S. Semiz, Ü. Küçük, E. Kısa, M. Keskinkılıç, et al.
    • Journal: The Prostate, 2022
    • Citations: 5

 

  • A severe case of levothyroxine intoxication successfully treated in intensive care unit
    • Authors: Y. Savran, T. Mengi, M. Keskinkilic
    • Journal: Journal of Acute Disease, 2018
    • Citations: 11

 

 

Fabiana Tortora | Cancer | Women Researcher Award

Dr. Fabiana Tortora | Cancer | Women Researcher Award 

Dr. Fabiana Tortora is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Institute of Genetics and Biophysics (IGB-ABT), CNR, Naples, Italy. With expertise in molecular biology and biochemistry, her research focuses on protein interactors of long non-coding RNAs in bladder cancer and their therapeutic potential. She has presented at numerous international conferences and published extensively in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Tortora’s work bridges molecular mechanisms and clinical applications, contributing to advancements in cancer research and environmental biochemistry.

Profile

Scopus

🎓 Education

Ph.D. in Biochemical and Biotechnological Sciences: University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli (2019). Master’s Degree in Biology (LM-6): University of Naples “Federico II” (2016), graduated 110 cum laude. Undergraduate Training: Specialization in molecular biochemistry and precision medicine. Academic projects focused on antioxidant assays, DNA/RNA analysis, and apoptosis markers.

🧑‍🏫 Experience

Postdoctoral Fellow: AIRC-funded project on bladder cancer, IGB-ABT, CNR (2023-2026). Research Grant Recipient: IBP Institute, CNR, Naples (2020-2022). Visiting Scientist: Zewail City of Science and Technology, Egypt (2021). Internship: University of Tübingen, Germany (2018); Campania Luigi Vanvitelli (2016). Expertise in cell cultures, protein purification, FACS, and PCR.

🏆 Awards and Honors

Ph.D. Excellence: University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli (2019).  Awarded 2022 AIRC Postdoctoral Fellowship for cancer research. Recognized for outstanding research presentations at international conferences. Cum Laude distinction for Master’s degree in Biology.

🔬 Research Focus

Bladder Cancer: Investigating long non-coding RNAs (uc.8+) and their diagnostic/therapeutic potential. Molecular Biochemistry: Protein-DNA/RNA interactions and apoptosis mechanisms. Antioxidant Research: Protective effects of hydroxytyrosol in oxidative stress and mercury detoxification. Techniques: In silico docking, cell/tissue cultures, ROS assays, and enzymatic kinetics.

🏆Conclusion 

Dr. Tortora’s academic rigor, technical proficiency, and impactful research contributions make her a strong contender for the Women Researcher Award. Her work addresses critical biomedical challenges, such as cancer diagnostics and environmental toxicology, underscoring her relevance in both clinical and ecological contexts. By broadening her collaborations and enhancing publication impact, Dr. Tortora can further solidify her position as a leading researcher. She exemplifies excellence in research and is well-suited for recognition through this prestigious award.

📚Publications 

  • Prediction of Pesticide Interactions with Proteins Involved in Human Reproduction by Using a Virtual Screening Approach: A Case Study of Famoxadone Binding CRBP-III and Izumo
    • Year: 2024
    • Authors: Tortora, F., Guerrera, V., Lettieri, G., Febbraio, F., Piscopo, M.

 

  • Emerging RNA-Based Therapeutic and Diagnostic Options: Recent Advances and Future Challenges in Genitourinary Cancers
    • Year: 2023
    • Authors: Tortora, F., La Civita, E., Trivedi, P., Terracciano, D., Cimmino, A.

 

  • CD33 rs2455069 SNP: Correlation with Alzheimer’s Disease and Hypothesis of Functional Role
    • Year: 2022
    • Authors: Tortora, F., Rendina, A., Angiolillo, A., Febbraio, F., Vitale, E.

 

  • Effects of long non-coding RNAs on androgen signaling pathways in genitourinary malignancies
    • Year: 2021
    • Authors: Tortora, F., Calin, G.A., Cimmino, A.

 

  • Liquid biopsy biomarkers in urine: A route towards molecular diagnosis and personalized medicine of bladder cancer
    • Year: 2021
    • Authors: Ferro, M., La Civita, E., Liotti, A., Cimmino, A., Terracciano, D.

 

  • Novel insights into mercury effects on hemoglobin and membrane proteins in human erythrocytes
    • Year: 2020
    • Authors: Piscopo, M., Notariale, R., Tortora, F., Palumbo, G., Manna, C.

 

  • Hydroxytyrosol decreases phosphatidylserine exposure and inhibits suicidal death induced by lysophosphatidic acid in human erythrocytes
    • Year: 2019
    • Authors: Tortora, F., Notariale, R., Lang, F., Manna, C.

 

  • Phenol-rich feijoa sellowiana (Pineapple guava) extracts protect human red blood cells from mercury-induced cellular toxicity
    • Year: 2019
    • Authors: Tortora, F., Notariale, R., Maresca, V., Piscopo, M., Manna, C.

 

  • Comparative analysis of the effects of olive oil hydroxytyrosol and its 5-S-lipoyl conjugate in protecting human erythrocytes from mercury toxicity
    • Year: 2018
    • Authors: Officioso, A., Panzella, L., Tortora, F., Napolitano, A., Manna, C.