Serhat Sekmek

Dr. Serhat Sekmek

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

4Years (2023-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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11 October 2023 in Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
SSSerhat Sekmek
Serhat Sekmek
DBDogan Bayram
Dogan Bayram
GUGokhan Ucar
Gokhan Ucar
BCBurak Civelek
Burak Civelek
FKFahriye Tugba Kos
Fahriye Tugba Kos
DUDogan Uncu
Dogan Uncu
Introduction: Cabozantinib is a multikinase inhibitor agent used in the treatment of hepatocellular, renal, and thyroid cancers. The development of heart failure after cabozantinib initiation is an extremely rare side effect, with only four case reports published in the literature. We describe a case of cabozantinib-induced cardiac failure in a patient with thyroid cancer refractory to standard treatment. Case report: Fifty-seven-year-old woman had no history of cardiovascular disease. Echocardiography prior to chemotherapy revealed normal cardiac function. However, she developed pretibial edema and shortness of breath after 2 months of cabozantinib treatment. Ejection fraction was found to be 30% in the echocardiography of the patient, and global hypokinesia was detected in cardiac functions. Management and outcome: Cabozantinib treatment of the patient was discontinued. After discontinuation of treatment, the patient's cardiac functions did not return to normal. Heart failure due to cabozantinib treatment was thought to be permanent. Discussion: There are only four cases on this subject in the literature. Although the use of cabozantinib rarely causes heart failure, this side effect can have extremely serious consequences. Even if it is a rare condition, cardiological evaluations should be performed before and after cabozantinib therapy because it can be reversible after discontinuation of the treatment.

6 May 2025 in BMC Cancer
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
SYSEDAT YILDIRIM
SEDAT YILDIRIM
TBTugba Basoglu
Tugba Basoglu
ADAkif Doğan
Akif Doğan
GAGoncagül Akdağ
Goncagül Akdağ
OKOğuzcan Kınıkoğlu
Oğuzcan Kınıkoğlu
NTNedim Turan
Nedim Turan
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has a poor prognosis, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is the standard treatment for locally advanced TNBC. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of adding carboplatin to NACT regarding pathological complete response (pCR) and survival in the HER2-low and HER2-zero subgroups of TNBC patients. The study included 269 patients from five medical oncology clinics. Patients were divided into two groups: HER2-low (n = 152, 56.5%) and HER2-zero (n = 117, 43.5%). Among HER2-zero patients, 30 (25.6%) received carboplatin, while 38 (25.0%) HER2-low patients received carboplatin. The benefit of adding carboplatin to NACT regarding pCR and survival was assessed in both HER2-zero and HER2-low groups. When patients were evaluated according to HER2 status, the pCR rates were significantly higher in the HER2-zero group compared to the HER2-low group (45.2% versus 23.7%, p < 0.001). In the HER2-zero group, patients who received carboplatin had significantly higher pCR rates (63.3% versus 39.0%, p = 0.021). Similarly, in the HER2-low group, adding carboplatin significantly increased the pCR rates (36.8% versus 19.3%, p = 0.028). While carboplatin improved pCR rates in both HER2 subgroups, this benefit was not observed in patients with Grade 1 tumors, HER2 score 2-FISH negative tumors, or based on BRCA mutation status. Patients with pCR exhibited significantly prolonged DFS and OS (p = 0.002, p < 0.001, respectively). Our research demonstrates that the addition of carboplatin increases pCR rates in both HER2-zero and HER2-low patient cohorts. We suggest that carboplatin should be considered as an addition to standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy for eligible TNBC patients, regardless of HER2-zero or HER2-low status, when appropriate based on individual patient factors and toxicity considerations.

17 February 2025 in Journal of Chemotherapy
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PPPerihan Perkin
Perihan Perkin
SSSerhat Sekmek
Serhat Sekmek
DBDogan Bayram
Dogan Bayram
FKFahriye Tuğba Köş
Fahriye Tuğba Köş
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer treatment but are associated with immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Pembrolizumab, an anti-PD-1 antibody, is widely used in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), yet immune thrombocytopenia remains a rare but potentially fatal complication. We report a case of a 55-year-old male with metastatic NSCLC who developed pembrolizumab-associated immune thrombocytopenia. The patient initially responded well to combination therapy with pembrolizumab, carboplatin, and pemetrexed, achieving a metabolic complete response. However, after several cycles, he experienced recurrent grade 3 thrombocytopenia. Immune thrombocytopenia was suspected and managed with corticosteroids, leading to platelet recovery. Upon pembrolizumab rechallenge, thrombocytopenia recurred, necessitating permanent discontinuation of pembrolizumab while continuing pemetrexed maintenance. This case underscores the need for early recognition and prompt management of ICI-induced thrombocytopenia to ensure patient safety while optimizing oncologic outcomes.

30 November 2024 in Scientific Reports
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
SSSerhat Sekmek
Serhat Sekmek
SÇSema Nur Ozsan Çelebi
Sema Nur Ozsan Çelebi
DBDogan Bayram
Dogan Bayram
CECihan Erol
Cihan Erol
FKFahriye Tugba Kos
Fahriye Tugba Kos
YEYakup Ergun
Yakup Ergun
We aimed to compare FOLFIRI and bevacizumab with FOLFIRI and aflibercept in terms of overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and safety in patients with RAS-mutant metastatic colon cancer who progressed after first-line FOLFOX or XELOX and bevacizumab treatment. This retrospective study included 243 patients from 15 different centres in Turkey. The endpoints of the study were OS, PFS and safety and side effect outcomes. The median age of the patients included in the study was 60 (21–85) years. Of the patients enrolled in the study, 114 patients (46.9%) received aflibercept and 129 patients (53.1%) received bevacizumab. Median OS was 11.2 (95% CI: 9.1–13.2) months in patients receiving FOLFIRI + aflibercept and 14.1 (95% CI: 11.2–17.1) months in patients receiving FOLFIRI + bevacizumab. The median PFS was 5.7 (95% CI: 4.9–6.5) months in the aflibercept arm and 7.7 (95% CI: 7.1–8.3) months in the bevacizumab arm. Grade 3–4 side effects were observed in 58 (50.9%) patients in the aflibercept arm and 33 (25.6%) patients in the bevacizumab arm. As a result of our study, in patients with metastatic RAS-mutant colon cancer who progressed after first-line oxaliplatin-based doublet chemotherapy and bevacizumab, better OS and PFS results were obtained in patients receiving bevacizumab with FOLFIRI compared to patients receiving aflibercept with FOLFIRI. In addition, the side effect profile was more tolerable in the bevacizumab arm.

13 September 2024 in Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
SSSerhat Sekmek
Serhat Sekmek
DBDogan Bayram
Dogan Bayram
ISIsmet Seven
Ismet Seven
PPPerihan Perkin
Perihan Perkin
OBOznur Bal
Oznur Bal
EAEfnan Algin
Efnan Algin
Introduction: Letrozole is an aromatase inhibitor (AI), which suppresses plasma estrogen levels by inhibiting the aromatase enzyme, that causes the conversion of androgens to estrogen in peripheral tissues. There is very few information in the literature regarding the development of acute heart failure after AI use. We would like to report a case of a patient who was started letrozole for hormonal treatment and developed acute heart failure due to this. Case report: Fifty-seven-year-old woman with hormone positive breast cancer was operated after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and received radiotherapy. Letrozole treatment was initiated after radiotherapy and the patient presented to the emergency department after two weeks with cough and dyspnea. Ejection fraction decreased to 20% and acute heart failure developed. Management and outcome: Letrozole treatment was stopped. Afterwards, improvement in the patient's cardiac functions was observed. Letrozole-induced heart failure was thought to be reversible. Discussion: Letrozole is one of the most commonly used HT in the treatment of hormone positive breast cancer. It may rarely cause cardiac side effects. It is very important to make patients aware of these issues and to be consulted by cardiology in case of possible cardiac symptoms.

29 November 2024 in Oncology Research and Treatment
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
SSSerhat Sekmek
Serhat Sekmek
DBDogan Bayram
Dogan Bayram
IKIrfan Karahan
Irfan Karahan
ISIsmet Seven
Ismet Seven
PPPerihan Perkin
Perihan Perkin
EAEfnan Algin
Efnan Algin
Introduction: Endometrium cancer is the most common gynecological malignancy in developed countries. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of HER2 positivity on prognosis in endometrial cancer. Methods: In our study, patients admitted to our clinic with a diagnosis of endometrial cancer between September 2019 and December 2023 were retrospectively evaluated. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) immunohistochemistry was performed in 121 patients. HER2-low group (HER2 score: 0 and 1) and HER2-high group (HER2 score: 2 and 3) were defined according to the HER2 immunohistochemistry score in the pathology, and patients were compared accordingly. Results: We observed that 97 (80.2%) of the patients were in the HER2-low group, while 24 (19.8%) were in the HER2-high group. In the OS analysis, age (p = 0.381), menopausal status (p = 0.511), ECOG performance status (p = 0.087), histological type of tumor (p = 0.727), pathological grade (p = 0.206), serum LDH (p = 0.091), and albumin (p = 0.315) levels did not affect the prognosis. Patients with lower FIGO stage (p = 0.003) and HER2-high patients (p = 0.040) had better survival outcomes. Multivariable analysis showed that FIGO stage (p = 0.004) and HER2 status (p = 0.040) were independent risk factors affecting survival in endometrial cancer. Conclusion: As a result of our study, it was observed that FIGO stage and HER2 status were independent risk factors affecting OS in endometrial cancer patients. HER2-high group had a better prognosis than HER2-low group.