Erkut Demirciler

Dr. Erkut Demirciler

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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27 December 2024 in Cancers
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
STSalih Tunbekici
Salih Tunbekici
HYHaydar Çağatay Yüksel
Haydar Çağatay Yüksel
CACaner Acar
Caner Acar
GŞGökhan Şahin
Gökhan Şahin
SOSeval Orman
Seval Orman
PGPınar Gürsoy
Pınar Gürsoy
Background/Objectives: In the REGOMA trial, regorafenib demonstrated an overall survival advantage over lomustine, and it has become a recommended treatment for recurrent glioblastoma in guidelines. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of regorafenib as a third-line treatment for patients with recurrent glioblastoma who progressed while taking bevacizumab-based therapy. Methods: This retrospective, multicenter study in Turkey included 65 patients treated between 2021 and 2023 across 19 oncology centers. The main inclusion criteria were histologically confirmed isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wildtype glioblastoma, progression after second-line bevacizumab-based treatment, and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status score of ≤2. Patients received regorafenib 160 mg once daily for the first 3 weeks of each 4-week cycle. Results: The median age of the patients was 53 years (18–67 years), with a median progression-free survival of 2.5 months (95% Confidence Interval: 2.23–2.75) and a median overall survival of 4.1 months (95% CI: 3.52–4.68). The median overall survival was improved in patients who received subsequent therapy after regorafenib treatment compared with those who did not (p = 0.022). Progression-free survival was longer in patients with ECOG 0–1 than in those with ECOG 2 (p = 0.042). The safety profile was consistent with that of the REGOMA trial, with no drug-related deaths observed. Conclusions: Regorafenib shows good efficacy and safety as a third-line treatment for recurrent glioblastoma after bevacizumab-based therapy. This study supports the use of regorafenib and emphasizes the need for further randomized studies to validate its role and optimize treatment strategies.

1 January 2023 in Hepatology Forum
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
EDErkut Demirciler
Erkut Demirciler
NDNilay Danis
Nilay Danis
PEPelin Ergun
Pelin Ergun
TKTimur Köse
Timur Köse
ITİlKer Turan
İlKer Turan
ZKZeki Karasu
Zeki Karasu
Background and Aim: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a frequent complication of liver diseases. Systemic inflammation is key for HE pathogenesis. The main goal of the study was to investigate the role of psychometric tests, critical flicker frequency (CFF), and comparative evaluation of inflammatory indicators for the diagnosis of covert HE (CHE). Materials and Methods: The study was a prospective, nonrandomized, case–control study with a total of 76 cirrhotic patients and 30 healthy volunteers. The West Haven criteria were used to determine the occurrence of CHE in cirrhotic patients. Psychometric tests were applied to healthy and cirrhotic groups. CFF, venous ammonia, serum endotoxin, IL-6, IL-18, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels, and hemogram parameters were evaluated for cirrhotic patients. Results: CFF values and psychometric tests were found to accurately discriminate CHE positives from CHE negatives (p

Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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OAOktay halit Aktepe
Oktay halit Aktepe
AEAHMET GÜRKAN ERDEMIR
AHMET GÜRKAN ERDEMIR
EYEda caliskan yildirim
Eda caliskan yildirim
EDErkut Demirciler
Erkut Demirciler
TUTugce Ulasli
Tugce Ulasli
SYSuayib Yalcin
Suayib Yalcin
Background/Objectives: The precise role of volumetric body composition (VBC) parameters, visceral adipose tissue index (VATI), subcutaneous adipose tissue index (SATI), and skeletal muscle index (SMI) on the survival of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) is not fully elucidated. Herein, the present study investigated the clinical significance of baseline VBC parameters and their changes after 3–4 months from treatment initiation in patients with mRCC treated with first-line targeted therapy. Methods: A total of 108 patients were enrolled. VBC parameters were depicted from computerized tomography (CT) images at the third lumbar vertebra level. Kaplan–Meier curves were used to estimate survival probability, and the differences between prognostic subgroups were compared with the log-rank test. The association of baseline VBC variables and their change values (First CT value minus baseline CT value) with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was evaluated in univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: The median PFS and OS of the whole patients were 11 and 46 months, respectively. Patients with increased VATI and SATI change values had poorer OS than those with decreased values. However, patients with higher SMI change values had superior OS than those with lower values. Among VBC variables, the independent predictors of worse OS were high VATI change (HR 5.10, p = 0.001) and low SMI change values (HR 2.66, p = 0.007), in addition to International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium prognostic stratification (p = 0.001). Conclusions: Our findings showed that high VATI and low SMI changes were associated with worse OS in mRCC patients treated with first-line targeted therapy.

9 May 2025 in Medicina
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
FÖFaruk Recep Özalp
Faruk Recep Özalp
KYKutsal Yörükoğlu
Kutsal Yörükoğlu
EYEda caliskan yildirim
Eda caliskan yildirim
MUMehmet Uzun
Mehmet Uzun
EDErkut Demirciler
Erkut Demirciler
HSHuseyin Salih Semiz
Huseyin Salih Semiz
Background and Objectives: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a biologically heterogeneous malignancy, and traditional prognostic models often fail to provide accurate risk stratification. B7-H3 (CD276), an immune checkpoint molecule, has been implicated in RCC progression but remains underexplored as a prognostic biomarker. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 52 patients with localized RCC who underwent nephrectomy. Immunohistochemical staining was used to assess B7-H3 expression. A novel prognostic scoring system, the Renal Immune Prognostic Index (RIPI), incorporating B7-H3 expression, tumor necrosis, tumor grade, and pathological staging, was developed and validated. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazard models were employed to evaluate disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: High B7-H3 expression was significantly associated with shorter DFS (12 vs. 54 months; p = 0.001) and OS (70 vs. 123 months; p = 0.002). The RIPI demonstrated strong prognostic performance, stratifying the patients into distinct risk groups with a C-index of 0.82. The high-risk patients had a median DFS of 14 months, compared with 125 months in the low-risk group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: B7-H3 expression serves as a significant prognostic biomarker in localized RCC, correlating with poorer survival outcomes. The integration of B7-H3 into the RIPI enhances risk stratification by incorporating both molecular and pathological features. These findings support the incorporation of immune biomarkers into clinical practice and highlight B7-H3 as a potential target for novel therapeutic strategies in RCC.

8 July 2026 in Preprints.org
Verified
Preprint
Open access
PDF file
EDErkut Demirciler
Erkut Demirciler
KCKÜBRA CANASLAN
KÜBRA CANASLAN
HEHalil İbrahim Ellez
Halil İbrahim Ellez
SASeval Akay
Seval Akay
GOGökalp Okut
Gökalp Okut
HSHuseyin Salih Semiz
Huseyin Salih Semiz
Background and Objectives: The MATTERHORN study demonstrated that adding durvalumab to perioperative FLOT improves survival in resectable gastric cancer. As immunotherapy enters routine practice, precise patient stratification becomes critical. This study examines whether baseline blood-based inflammatory markers can predict pathological response and long-term outcomes. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 130 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma receiving perioperative systemic treatment. Nine inflammatory and nutritional indices (NLR, MLR, NMR, SII, SIRI, HALP, ALBI, PALBI, and PNI) were assessed against Mandard Tumor Regression Grade (TRG), overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS). Results: Median age was 63 years (range 28–83); median follow-up was 22.2 months. Of all markers assessed, only PNI was significantly associated with major pathological response (TRG 1–2) and DFS on univariable analysis. Multivariable logistic regression identified PNI ≥ 53.125 as the sole independent predictor of TRG 1–2 (OR 4.200, 95% CI 1.631–10.820; p = 0.003). Completing perioperative treatment independently predicted DFS, while post-treatment nodal stage (ypN) and treatment completion independently predicted OS. Optimal cut-offs were PNI ≥ 53.125 for major response (sensitivity 57.1%, specificity 73.6%) and PNI ≤ 48.475 for recurrence risk (sensitivity 59.4%, specificity 68.7%). Conclusions: Among all markers evaluated, PNI showed the most consistent associations with treatment response and survival, and was the only independent predictor of major pathological response. The proposed cut-off values offer a practical, cost-effective approach to patient stratification—helping identify those who may need intensified treatment or closer postoperative surveillance.

15 August 2026 in Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
FÖFaruk Recep Özalp
Faruk Recep Özalp
ÖYÖzge Yetginoğlu
Özge Yetginoğlu
ŞSŞerife Sivridemir
Şerife Sivridemir
EDErkut Demirciler
Erkut Demirciler
OAOktay halit Aktepe
Oktay halit Aktepe
AKAziz Karaoğlu
Aziz Karaoğlu
Aims: To analyze the clinicopathological features and survival outcomes of early-onset colon cancer (EOCC,