In Izmir, Medical Oncology Specialist Prof. Dr. H. İbrahim Petekkaya and his team at a private hospital treated a skin cancer patient with smart drugs used in the treatment of lung cancer. With the treatment that yielded positive results, the patient regained his health.
Molecular Biology and Genetics Specialist Dr. Aybike Erdoğan Atay, one of Petekkaya and his teammates, explained the details of their success. Prof. Dr. H. İbrahim Petekkaya said, “In our oncology center, we have started to focus more on personalized oncological treatments. According to the NGS report of the genetic material we receive from patients, that is, the genetic material we receive from the tumor, we are interested in which treatment we can give the most appropriate treatment to those patients. Recently, the mother of our own nurse had skin cancer. The patient's tissue and blood sample were sent to a private laboratory in the US for next generation sequencing analysis. As a result of DNA and RNA-based genetic analysis, it was determined in which genes the patient had differentiation. We found that MET was over-expressed at the cellular level. We also had the tissue stained by a pathologist to check whether this was causing excessive protein formation in the cell. We started to use a drug given in lung cancer in skin cancer, and we saw that the lesions on the skin shrunk, faded, and even necrosed very quickly after two combined smart drugs were given to a resistant patient in whom we could not get a response despite repeated chemotherapy. We were very happy to see that there was regression in liver and bone metastases. We hope to cure all our patients in this way. The molecular change found is the first treatment for the patient's rare tumor and we are in the process of publishing it in the world literature.” Petekkaya also added that they have established the International Molecular Oncology Association and are working to further develop Turkish oncology.
“We offer a personalized treatment approach”
Medical Oncology Specialist Prof. Dr. Aybike Erdoğan Atay, Molecular Biology and Genetics Specialist Dr. Aybike Erdoğan Atay, who is in the team of Medical Oncology Specialist Prof. Dr. H. İbrahim Petekkaya, said, “Tissue and liquid biopsy, i.e. blood samples taken from patients, are subjected to next generation sequencing. As a result, a molecular profile of the patient emerges. What does this mean? We see the differences in DNA, RNA and chromosomal restructuring. In other words, we are trying to find the molecular cause of the person's own cancer. This detected point may be a mutation, there may be expression differences, there may be a fusion gene as a result of rearrangement in chromosomes. We search for these in the literature and try to find the main mechanisms that cause the person's cancer. If it is not known with current data, we look at the reflections of the changes detected with computer-based tools on the functional protein. As a result of all these, we determine which targeted treatments we can give for the patient's tumor. This could be a tyrosine kinase receptor or an immune checkpoint inhibitor. In this way, we try to silence the main driving mechanisms in their cancer. In this way, we offer a personalized treatment approach by blending molecular and clinical data.”
Onur Kalender, a nurse working at the same hospital, stated that his mother, who suffered from skin cancer, regained her health by the team of Medical Oncology Specialist Prof. Dr. H. İbrahim Petekkaya and said, “My mother was diagnosed with skin cancer. During the treatment process, we sent a test abroad with the suggestion of Prof. Dr. İbrahim. According to the test result, it was recommended to start smart medication. After starting smart drugs, it showed an effect very quickly. He regained his health. Mr. İbrahim also makes our controls from time to time,” he said.
İHA Haber Kodu: 20241004AW300889