Rumeysa Çolak

Dr. Rumeysa Çolak

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

8Years (2019-Present)

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

Representative Publications

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18 February 2025 in Cancers
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MGMurad Guliyev
Murad Guliyev
AGAli Kaan Güren
Ali Kaan Güren
EÖEmre özge
Emre özge
RÇRumeysa Çolak
Rumeysa Çolak
NANargiz Majidova Altuntash
Nargiz Majidova Altuntash
ÖAÖzkan Alan
Özkan Alan
Background/Objectives: CDK4/6 inhibitors have changed the landscape of hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative metastatic breast cancer (BC) management. It is essential to identify predictive and prognostic factors for the efficacy of CDK4/6 inhibitors. We aimed to investigate the differences in characteristics and outcomes of patients receiving first-line CDK4/6 inhibitors according to PgR status. Methods: This multicenter retrospective study included 351 patients treated with first-line CDK 4/6 inhibitors for HR-positive/HER2-negative metastatic BC. Patients were categorized based on their PgR expression levels, including the PgR-low (<20%) and PgR-high (≥20%) groups, and baseline characteristics, treatment responses, and survival outcomes were analyzed. Results: The median age was 57 years (range: 26–85). A total of 99 patients were premenopausal, and 252 patients were postmenopausal. There were 115 (32.8%) patients in the PgR-low group, while 236 (67.2%) were in the PgR-high group. The majority of patients (56.7%) presented with de novo metastatic disease. Visceral metastases presented in 44.2% of patients. Low PgR expression was significantly associated with lower estrogen receptor levels (p = 0.031), elevated Ki-67 levels (p = 0.002), a higher incidence of visceral metastases (p = 0.035), and recurrent disease (p = 0.019). In the multivariate analysis, low PgR expression was a significant independent predictor of worse progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Conclusions: We demonstrated that low PgR expression is independently and significantly correlated with shorter PFS and OS. These findings support low PgR expression as a valuable prognostic biomarker in metastatic BC patients treated with first-line CDK4/6 inhibitors.

1 July 2024 in International Journal of Gynecological Cancer
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
AAArif Akyildiz
Arif Akyildiz
MGMelis Gultekin
Melis Gultekin
EYEcem Yigit
Ecem Yigit
EDEcem Demir
Ecem Demir
RIRashad Ismayilov
Rashad Ismayilov
ZAZafer ARIK
Zafer ARIK
Objective To investigate the impact of cumulative cisplatin dose on clinical outcomes in locally advanced cervical cancer patients undergoing definitive chemoradiotherapy. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 654 patients with stage IB3–IVA disease treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy. Radiotherapy was applied as external beam pelvic with or without para-aortic radiotherapy and brachytherapy. Concomitant chemotherapy was in the form of weekly or 3 weekly cisplatin. Data on demographics, treatment protocols, cumulative cisplatin dose, adverse effects, and survival outcomes were collected. Statistical analyses, including univariate and multivariate Cox regression models, were used to assess factors influencing progression free survival and overall survival. Results The median cumulative cisplatin dose was 210 mg (range 40–320), and ≥200 mg in 503 (76.9%) patients. Median follow-up was 35 months (range 1–150). The 5 year progression free survival and overall survival rates were 66.9% and 77.1%, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified poor performance status, non-squamous cell histology, presence of lymph node metastases, and hemoglobin <10 g/dL before chemoradiotherapy as poor prognostic factors for both progression free survival and overall survival in the whole group. When stage III cases were evaluated separately, the cumulative cisplatin dose 200 mg, particularly in patients with lymph node metastases, significantly improved overall survival. Factors such as anemia, toxicity related challenges, and comorbidities were identified as critical considerations in treatment planning. These findings emphasize the balance between maximizing therapeutic efficacy and managing toxicity, guiding personalized treatment approaches for locally advanced cervical cancer.

22 December 2024 in Medicina
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
EDEzgi Degerli
Ezgi Degerli
ÇAÇağatay Arslan
Çağatay Arslan
FSFatih Selçukbiricik
Fatih Selçukbiricik
OOOmer Fatih Olmez
Omer Fatih Olmez
DEDilek Erdem
Dilek Erdem
DTDeniz Tural
Deniz Tural
Background and Objectives: A high baseline neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a poor prognostic factor in various cancers. However, its predictive role in metastatic bladder cancer (mBC) treated with immunotherapy is unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the baseline and change in NLR and overall survival in mBC patients treated with immunotherapy, with the potential to significantly impact patient care. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 56 mBC patients who received second-line immunotherapy after progressing on platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients were classified into high and low NLR groups using a cutoff value of 3.3. A further division was made based on NLR changes after two cycles of immunotherapy: whether NLR increased (≥10%) or decreased (≥10%). The endpoint was to estimate the association between clinicopathological features and survival outcomes. Results: The study included 56 patients, with a median age of 66.6 years and a male-to-female ratio of 2.3:1. A low baseline NLR was associated with better OS than a high baseline NLR (p = 0.005). After two immunotherapy cycles, patients with a decreased NLR (≥10%) had significantly longer OS than those with an increased NLR (≥10%), regardless of the baseline NLR (p = 0.003). The overall median survival was 15 months, with 10 months for the NLR-increased group and not reached for the NLR-decreased group. Conclusions: Our study highlights the potential of baseline NLR and early changes in NLR as valuable prognostic markers for mBC patients receiving immunotherapy. Elevated neutrophils and lymphopenia negatively impact prognosis and treatment effectiveness, and NLR shows promise as a prognostic marker, inspiring further research and potential improvements in patient care.

17 February 2025 in Journal of Chemotherapy
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
RÇRumeysa Çolak
Rumeysa Çolak
IGİlKay Gültürk
İlKay Gültürk
GDGülhan Dinç
Gülhan Dinç
GAGoncagül Akdağ
Goncagül Akdağ
SYSedat Yıldırım
Sedat Yıldırım
DTDeniz Tural
Deniz Tural
Immunotherapies have increased the therapeutic options for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), but the absence of prognostic indicators remains unresolved. We assessed the potential association of BMI with the overall survival (OS) of patients treated with nivolumab. We performed a retrospective study of 126 patients with histologically confirmed mRCC who began systemic ICI therapy between January 2016 and April 2022 were included. BMI at the time of treatment start was calculated. Then patients were divided into two groups: high BMI (≥25) and low BMI (<25). Therapeutic responses were determined according to RECIST v1.1. OS was defined as the time from starting ICI treatment until death or last follow-up at the data cutoff. The cohort was male 74.6%, with a median age of 62. The median follow-up time was 18.6 months. The patients were classified as low BMI (<25) and high BMI (≥25). The OS was 40.6 months (95% CI: 34.2-47.0) for patients with high BMI vs. 9.4 months (95% CI: 7.0-11.7) for patients with low BMI, and a significant association was found between BMI and OS (p < 0.001). BMI was an independent prognostic factor in the patients with mRCC treated with nivolumab. Prospective and multicenter research is needed to confirm our findings.

Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MFMehmet Cem Fidan
Mehmet Cem Fidan
AÖAhmet Emin Öztürk
Ahmet Emin Öztürk
OAOkan Aydın
Okan Aydın
GAGoncagül Akdağ
Goncagül Akdağ
ETEzgi Turkoglu
Ezgi Turkoglu
ÖAÖzkan Alan
Özkan Alan
Background: Hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative metastatic breast cancer frequently involves liver metastases, which are linked to poor outcomes. The optimal first-line treatment strategy in this subgroup remains unclear. Methods: This multicenter, retrospective study evaluated 121 patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer and liver metastasis who had not received prior systemic chemotherapy or cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitors (e.g., palbociclib, ribociclib). Patients were classified based on their initial treatment during the liver metastatic phase (CDK4/6 inhibitors or chemotherapy). Clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and survival outcomes were assessed. Cox regression analysis identified independent prognostic factors. Results: The median age was 53 years; 62% were postmenopausal. Chemotherapy was administered to 36.4%, and CDK4/6 inhibitors to 63.6% of patients. Most cases (59.5%) were recurrent disease. Baseline characteristics were comparable, except for the use of local liver-directed therapies. Progression-free survival favored CDK4/6 inhibitors (10.9 vs. 4.8 months; p < 0.01), while overall survival favored chemotherapy (42.2 vs. 25.9 months; p = 0.042). In multivariate analysis, initial treatment modality, local liver-directed therapy, hormonal status, and the size of the largest liver lesion were independent predictors of survival. Conclusions: In patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer and liver metastasis, first-line chemotherapy was associated with improved overall survival compared to CDK4/6 inhibitors. Local liver-directed therapies contributed to longer survival, while larger liver lesions and endocrine-resistant disease correlated with worse outcomes. These findings support considering chemotherapy as first-line treatment in selected patients with aggressive liver metastatic disease.

6 May 2025 in Anti-Cancer Drugs
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
RÇRumeysa Çolak
Rumeysa Çolak
CKCaner Kapar
Caner Kapar
MYMesut Yilmaz
Mesut Yilmaz
Salivary duct carcinoma (SDC), an aggressive and relatively rare tumor, accounts for approximately 10% of all salivary gland malignancies. We report a case of a patient with a metastatic, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive parotid SDC efficiently treated with docetaxel and trastuzumab combination after multiple series of chemotherapies. A 61-year-old man presented with SDC. After adjuvant radiotherapy, imaging revealed multiple metastatic lesions in the lungs. Systemic treatment with carboplatin and paclitaxel was initiated. After disease progression, doxorubicin, vinorelbine, and capecitabine were performed. Neurotrophic tropomyosin receptor kinase and AR (androgen receptor) were negative. Immunohistochemistry determined a HER2-positive score of 3. After multiple chemotherapy, the patient was started with combination of docetaxel and trastuzumab. A complete response was obtained after 3 months of treatment in the patient. In conclusion, SDCs are highly aggressive malignant tumors. Targeted therapy with trastuzumab targeting HER2 overexpression is a reasonable option in metastatic settings.