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