Atabey Lab. on Cancer Biology and Signaling

Overview

Atabey Lab. has been working in the field of Cancer Biology and Signaling. The scientific goal of our group is to fill the gaps in the fundamental biological mechanisms underlying the development and progression of cancer. Over the past two decades, our group has been working on to develop deeper understanding the role of signal transduction cascade in cancer development and progression and using this molecular knowledge to improve the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Specific Goals

1) Identification of the potential reciprocal crosstalk between c-Met receptor and other signaling molecules and their cooperative interaction in drug resistance in HCC
2) Investigating HGF/c-Met axis in tumor microenvironment and metastasis formation in the liver
3) Identification of the potential reciprocal crosstalk between HGF/c-Met signaling and glucose metabolism in HCC using various in vitro and in vivo models and further use this knowledge for developing strategies to prevent HCC
4) Identification of the roles of non-coding RNAs in the regulation of c-Met signaling in HCC
5) Deciphering signaling pathways in clinical samples for precision medicine using omics technologies
6) The use of omics data obtaining by our group and by the literature to investigate signaling mechanisms in metastasis and cancer by using in silico methods
7) Fabrication and validation of Lab-on-a-chip (LOC) system to predict metastatic and invasive ability to circulating tumor cells
8) Application of LOC in the early stage of anti-metastatic drug discovery focusing on gene expressions, receptor signaling and susceptibility

Our Team

Peyda Korhan, Research Associate

BSc (1998-2002); Thrace University, Biology

MSc (2003-2005); University of Wolverhampton UK, Biomedical Science

PhD (2007- 2014); Dokuz Eylül University, Medical Biology and Genetics

Afsoon Sadeghi Azadi, Post-Doctoral Researcher

BSc (2010); Ferdowsi University, Cell and Molecular Biology

MSc (2012); Uppsala University, Cell and Molecular Biology

PhD (2018); University of Exeter, Cell and Molecular Biology

Yasemin Öztemur Islakoğlu, Post-Doctoral Researcher

BSc (2007-2011); Hacettepe University, Biology

MSc (2011-2013); Ankara University Biotechnology Institute, Basic Biotechnology

PhD (2014-2018); Ankara University Biotechnology Institute, Basic Biotechnology

Yeliz Yılmaz, PhD Candidate

BSc (2004-2008); Boğaziçi University, Molecular Biology and Genetics

MSc (2008-2011); Boğaziçi University, Molecular Biology and Genetics

Ezgi Bağırsakçı, PhD Candidate

BSc (2009 – 2014); İhsan Doğramacı Bilkent University, Molecular Biology and Genetics

MSc (2015-2017); Dokuz Eylül University, Medical Biology and Genetics

Dehan Çömez, PhD Candidate

BSc (2010-2014); İstanbul University, Molecular Biology and Genetics

MSc (2016-2019); Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute, Molecular Biology and Genetics

Gülsün Bağcı, PhD Candidate

BSc (2012-2016); Izmir Institute of Technology (IZTECH), Molecular Biology and Genetics

MSc (2016-2019); Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute, Molecular Biology and Genetics

Alumni

Ayşim Güneş, PhD

Thesis: The Role of Signaling Pathways Associated with Oxidative Stress in the Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Current Position: Post-Doctoral Researcher, Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM), McGill University

Erkan Kahraman, PhD

Thesis: Investigation of the Role of Sestrin 2 in Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Current Position: Assistant Professor, Atatürk Health Care Vocational School, Ege University

Hande Topel, PhD

Thesis: Investigation of the Relationship of c-Met Signalization and lncRNA HOTAIR in Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal
Transition Process of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Current Position: Post-Doctoral Researcher, University of Southern Denmark (SDU)

Group Members

Atabey Lab. on Cancer Biology and Signaling

Research Group Leader

Neşe ATABEY
nese.atabey@ibg.edu.tr
+90 232 299 41 00 (5221)
+9 0232 299 41 72

Yasemin ÖZTEMUR ISLAKOĞLU Post-Doc Researcher  yasemin.oztemur@ibg.edu.tr


Bahriye KARAKAŞ KÖSE Post-Doc Researcher  bahriye.karakas@ibg.edu.tr


Gizem BATI AYAZ Post-Doc Researcher  gizem.ayaz@ibg.edu.tr


Gülhas SOLMAZ Visiting Researcher  gulhas.solmaz@ibg.edu.tr


Yeliz YILMAZ Post-Doc Researcher  yeliz.yilmaz@ibg.edu.tr


Işıl KILIÇGÜN MSc Student  isil.kilicgun@ibg.edu.tr


Peyda KORHAN Researcher  peyda.korhan@ibg.edu.tr


Feyza SAKIN Undergraduate Student  feyza.sakin@ibg.edu.tr


BURCU SARIKAYA Post-Doc Researcher  None


Barış KELEŞ MSc Student  baris.keles@ibg.edu.tr


Tutku GÜLER MSc Student  tutku.guler@ibg.edu.tr


Ezgi BAĞIRSAKÇI TEPE PhD Student  ezgi.bagirsakci@ibg.edu.tr


Former Members

Hande TOPEL Research Assistant  hande.topel@ibg.edu.tr


Yeliz YILMAZ Research Assistant  yeliz.yilmaz@ibg.edu.tr


Işıl KILIÇGÜN MSc Student  isil.kilicgun@ibg.edu.tr


Doğuş ALTINTAŞ Visiting Researcher  dogus.altintas@msfr.ibg.edu.tr


Yeliz YILMAZ Post-Doc Researcher  yeliz.yilmaz@ibg.edu.tr


Fatıma Gülşen ÖZKAN KARAGÖZ Undergraduate Student  fatima.karagoz@msfr.ibg.edu.tr


Zehranaz CAN Undergraduate Student  zehranaz.can@msfr.ibg.edu.tr


Burçin BARAN Visiting Researcher  burcin.baran@msfr.ibg.edu.tr


Gökçe CAN Undergraduate Student  gokce.can@msfr.ibg.edu.tr


Halil ÇAVDAR Undergraduate Student  halil.cavdar@ibg.edu.tr


Dehan ÇÖMEZ PhD Student  dehan.comez@msfr.ibg.edu.tr


Ali ALCAN Undergraduate Student  ali.alcan@ibg.edu.tr


Gülsün BAĞCI PhD Student  gulsun.bagci@ibg.edu.tr


Seyhan İÇİER MSc Student  seyhan.icier@ibg.edu.tr


Afsoon Sadeghi AZADI Post-Doc Researcher  afsoon.azadi@msfr.ibg.edu.tr
+90 232 299 41 00 (-)

Emre Can BULUZ Undergraduate Student  emrecan.buluz@msfr.ibg.edu.tr


Zeynep AVCİL Post-Doc Researcher  zeynep.avcil@msfr.ibg.edu.tr


News

Please follow us on @atabeylab instagram and twitter accounts :)


Selected Publications

Topel H, Bağırsakçı E, Yılmaz Y, Güneş A, Bağcı G, Çömez D, Kahraman E, Korhan P, Atabey N. High glucose induced c-Met activation promotes aggressive phenotype and regulates expression of glucose metabolism genes in HCC cells.. Scientific Reports. 2021 May ; 11 (1) : 11376. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-89765-5. Download

Karagonlar ZF, Akbari S, Karabicici M, Sahin E, Avci ST, Ersoy N, Ates KE, Balli T, Karacicek B, Kaplan KN, Celiker C, Atabey N, Erdal E. A Novel Function for KLF4 in Modulating the De-differentiation of EpCAM -/CD133 - nonStem Cells Into EpCAM +/CD133 + Liver Cancer Stem Cells in HCC Cell Line HuH7. Cells. 2020 May ; 9 (5) : 1198. doi:10.3390/cells9051198. Download

Aysim Gunes, Ezgi Bagirsakci, Evin Iscan, Gulcin Cakan-Akdogan, Umut Aykutlu, Serif Senturk, Gunes Ozhan, Esra Erdal, Deniz Nart, Funda Yilmaz Barbet, Nese Atabey. Thioredoxin interacting protein promotes invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncotarget. 2018 ; 9 (96) : 36849-36866. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.26402. Download

Korhan P, Yılmaz Y, Bağırsakçı E, Güneş A, Topel H, Carr BI, Atabey N. Pleiotropic Effects of Heparins: From Clinical Applications to Molecular Mechanisms in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.. Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2018 January ; 2018 : 7568742. doi:10.1155/2018/7568742. Download

. Role of Albumin in growth inhibition in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Oncology. 2017 May ; 93 (2) : 136-142. doi:10.1159/000471807. Download

Yılmaz Y, Güneş A, Topel H, Atabey N. Signaling Pathways as Potential Therapeutic Targets in Hepatocarcinogenesis. J Gastrointest Cancer. 2017 September ; 48 (3) : 225-237. doi:10.1007/s12029-017-9958-1. Download

İşcan E, Güneş A, Korhan P, Yılmaz Y, Erdal E, Atabey N. The regulatory role of heparin on c-Met signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. J Cell Commun Signal. 2017 June ; 11 (2) : 155-166. doi:10.1007/s12079-016-0368-0. Download

Firtina Karagonlar Z, Koç D, Şahin E, Avci ST, Yilmaz M, Atabey N, Erdal E. Effect of adipocyte-secreted factors on EpCAM+/CD133+ hepatic stem cell population.. Biochemical and biophysical research communications. 2016 January ; 474 (3) : 482-490. doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.04.137. Download

Firtina Karagonlar Z, Koc D, Iscan E, Erdal E, Atabey N. Elevated hepatocyte growth factor expression as an autocrine c-Met activation mechanism in acquired resistance to sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.. Cancer science. 2016 January ; 107 (4) : 407-16. doi:10.1111/cas.12891. Download

Yilmaz Y, Atabey N, Erdal E & Brian I. Carr. Platelets, Microenvironment and Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Biochemistry & Analytical Biochemistry. 2016 June ; 5 : 281. doi:10.4172/2161-1009.1000281. Download

Gunes A, Iscan E, Topel H, Avci ST, Gumustekin M, Erdal E, Atabey N. Heparin treatment increases thioredoxin interacting protein expression in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.. The international journal of biochemistry & cell biology. 2015 January ; 65 : 169-81. doi:10.1016/j.biocel.2015.05.025. Download

Korhan P, Erdal E, Kandemiş E, Cokaklı M, Nart D, Yılmaz F, Can A, Atabey N. Reciprocal activating crosstalk between c-Met and caveolin 1 promotes invasive phenotype in hepatocellular carcinoma.. PloS one. 2014 January ; 9 (8) : e105278. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0105278. Download

Korhan P, Erdal E, Atabey N. MiR-181a-5p is downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma and suppresses motility, invasion and branching-morphogenesis by directly targeting c-Met.. Biochemical and biophysical research communications. 2014 January ; 450 (4) : 1304-12. doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2014.06.142. Download

Kunter I, Erdal E, Nart D, Yilmaz F, Karademir S, Sagol O, Atabey N. Active form of AKT controls cell proliferation and response to apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma.. Oncology reports. 2014 January ; 31 (2) : 573-80. doi:10.3892/or.2013.2932. Download

Bozkaya G, Korhan P, Cokaklı M, Erdal E, Sağol O, Karademir S, Korch C, Atabey N. Cooperative interaction of MUC1 with the HGF/c-Met pathway during hepatocarcinogenesis.. Molecular cancer. 2012 January ; 11 : 64. doi:10.1186/1476-4598-11-64. Download

Gumustekin M, Kargi A, Bulut G, Gozukizil A, Ulukus C, Oztop I, Atabey N. HGF/c-Met overexpressions, but not met mutation, correlates with progression of non-small cell lung cancer.. Pathology oncology research : POR. 2012 January ; 18 (2) : 209-18. doi:10.1007/s12253-011-9430-7. Download

Ozen E, Gozukizil A, Erdal E, Uren A, Bottaro DP, Atabey N. Heparin inhibits Hepatocyte Growth Factor induced motility and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells through early growth response protein 1.. PloS one. 2012 January ; 7 (8) : e42717. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0042717. Download

Cokakli M, Erdal E, Nart D, Yilmaz F, Sagol O, Kilic M, Karademir S, Atabey N. Differential expression of Caveolin-1 in hepatocellular carcinoma: correlation with differentiation state, motility and invasion.. BMC cancer. 2009 January ; 9 : 65. doi:10.1186/1471-2407-9-65. Download

Total : 18

Selected Book Chapters

Targeting c-Met and AXL Crosstalk for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (2021). Liver Cancer in the Middle East. Springer.

Molecular Mechanisms of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (2016). Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Diagnosis and Treatment, 3rd Edition. Springer.

Total : 2

Projects

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey - TUBITAK - RD : A New Lab-on-a-Chip Device for Early Diagnosis of Metastasis, Finished

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey - TUBITAK - RD : Molecular Mechanisms of High Glucose Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression: c-Met Activation and Potential Players Thioredoxin Interacting Protein, Sestrin2 and lncRNA HOTAIR, Finished

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey - TUBITAK - RD : The Role of Caveolin-1 on Sorafenib Resistance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Finished

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey - TUBITAK - RD : Interaction of Spesific Insulin Receptor Isoforms with c-Met: Mechanisms and Contributing Roles in the Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Ongoing

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey - TUBITAK - RD : Investigation of the role of HGF/c-Met Pathway in tumor microenvironment during the progression of liver metastasis, Ongoing

Open Positions

Postdoctoral Researcher Position Available in Cancer Biology and Signaling Group at Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center

In Atabey Lab, our studies revolve around the role of c-Met signal transduction in hepatocarcinogenesis aiming to translate the molecular knowledge to improve the diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer. You can find more detailed information about our ongoing projects in our website.

The postdoc position will be funded by a Bosphorus project in collaboration with our partner lab at INSERM (France), the project is bilaterally supported by TUBITAK and the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs programs. The aim of this project is to uncover the role of isoform selection in receptor crosstalk during hepatocellular carcinoma progression. An approach covering a mechanistical and structural view will be taken and effects on biological responses will be investigated. The successful candidate is also expected to contribute to the study of the investigation and targeting of a novel c-Met post-translational modification via drug repurposing. This multicenter research project is funded by TUSEB.

Throughout the projects, the postdoc will utilize molecular biology techniques including the use of basic lab methods (western blot, immunoprecipitation etc.); preparation of samples for RNA-Seq, mass-spec and SAXS experiments; Luciferase assay; and will also have the opportunity to work with zebrafish and mouse xenograft models. Strong background in protein biochemistry is expected from the candidate since the main role of this position is to fulfill our expectations in protein purification. Therefore, experience with protein purification and participation to in vivo experiments is a must; experience with chromatography, experience in mass-spec and SAXS analysis, and basic training in laboratory animal science is a plus.

Our team provides a nourishing and multi-disciplinary environment, international collaboration opportunities, and a friendly atmosphere.

Highly motivated candidates who can thrive in a fast-paced environment are welcomed to apply. The deadline for application is July 10, 2021. Interested candidates should please send their applications including a motivation letter, CV and the contact details of two references to:

Prof. Nese Atabey (nese.atabey@ibg.edu.tr) and Dr. Yeliz Yilmaz (yeliz.yilmaz@msfr.ibg.edu.tr).

For further information about our group, please visit our website https://www.ibg.edu.tr/research-programs/groups/atabey-lab/.

Awards

  • Above-Threshold Award by TUBITAK, 2017
  • Altan Günalp Araştırma Ödülü by Tıbbi Biyoloji ve Genetik Kongresi, 2013

Contact

Atabey Lab. on Cancer Biology and Signaling

Research Group Leader

Neşe ATABEY
nese.atabey@ibg.edu.tr
+90 232 299 41 00 (5221)
+9 0232 299 41 72