Akgun Karakok

Dr. Akgun Karakok

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

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

Representative Publications

View All Publications
19 August 2025 in Journal of Clinical Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
FAFATİH ATALAH
FATİH ATALAH
AAAYDIN ACARBAY
AYDIN ACARBAY
AKAkgun Karakok
Akgun Karakok
MBMehmet Beşiroğlu
Mehmet Beşiroğlu
FKfatih kuş
fatih kuş
HYHalil Yazici
Halil Yazici
Introduction and Aim: Renal transplant recipients face significant long-term graft and patient loss due to post-transplant malignancies. This study aimed to characterize post-transplant malignancies, determine mortality risk factors, and evaluate patient outcomes. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 2052 kidney transplant recipients who underwent transplantation between 1976 and 2019 at our institution, other national centers, or international facilities, and who had at least six months of follow-up. Regardless of the transplant center, all patients were followed exclusively at our nephrology department for post-transplant care. A comprehensive review of patient files was conducted, encompassing demographic data, malignancy type and treatment, mortality rates, tissue compatibility assessments, viral serology results, immunosuppression protocols, acute rejection history, and pre-transplant malignancies. The relationships between these variables and mortality were examined. Results: A total of 167 malignant events were observed in 163 patients out of 2052 renal transplant patients (7.9%). The female patients comprised 34.4% (n = 56) of the participants. Ages at transplantation and malignancy diagnosis had medians of 40.0 (13–72) and 50.0 (23–78) years, respectively. The leading malignancy was skin cancer at 30.0%, with Kaposi sarcoma at 11.3% and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease at 10.6% following. Of the patients followed up, 58.9% (93 patients) had mortality. In univariate analysis, older age at transplant, older age at malignancy diagnosis, and male sex were associated with mortality; however, no independent predictors were identified in the multivariate model (all p > 0.05), likely due to sample size limitations and inter-variable collinearity. Mortality showed statistically significant associations (p < 0.05) with increased age at transplantation, increased age at malignancy diagnosis, and male gender. Conclusions: Post-transplant malignancies significantly compromise both graft longevity and patient survival. Particularly aggressive skin cancers demand heightened clinical vigilance. Early detection through regular dermatological screening, patient education, and timely biopsies must become integral to long-term transplant care protocols.

16 November 2025 in Journal of Clinical Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
FAFATİH ATALAH
FATİH ATALAH
FKfatih kuş
fatih kuş
AAAYDIN ACARBAY
AYDIN ACARBAY
AKAkgun Karakok
Akgun Karakok
ONUR ALKANONUR ALKAN
ONUR ALKAN
MGMahmut Gumus
Mahmut Gumus
Background/Objectives: Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality. While prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is crucial for monitoring, its static levels are limited in predicting outcomes precisely. The Kinetics of Elimination of PSA (KELIM PSA) has recently emerged as a dynamic biomarker of treatment response. This research sought to determine the predictive power of KELIM PSA in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) on androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPI). Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed 98 CRPC patients treated with enzalutamide or abiraterone. The patients were categorized as either unfavorable (KELIM < 1) or favorable (KELIM ≥ 1). Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared, and survival outcomes were evaluated using Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox regression. Results: Of the cohort, 42 (42.9%) patients had favorable and 56 (57.1%) unfavorable KELIM values. The unfavorable group had a higher mortality rate (62.5% vs. 38.1%, p = 0.029). Univariate analysis showed that poor KELIM results increased mortality risk twofold (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.30, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.26–4.19, p = 0.006). In multivariable analysis, unfavorable KELIM remained independently associated with worse overall survival (HR: 2.09, 95% CI: 1.12–3.89, p = 0.020), together with second-line ARPI (HR: 3.19, 95% CI: 1.71–5.93, p < 0.001) and ADT + docetaxel during CSPC (HR: 2.14, 95% CI: 1.11–4.12, p = 0.022). Kaplan–Meier curves revealed that the unfavorable group had notably reduced overall survival and progression-free survival (log-rank p = 0.018). Conclusions: KELIM PSA is an independent predictor in ARPI-treated CRPC. By integrating PSA kinetics into prognostic models, risk stratification may be improved, and this may guide individualized treatment. Prospective multicenter validation is warranted.

14 August 2026 in İstanbul Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
FAFATİH ATALAH
FATİH ATALAH
AKAkgun Karakok
Akgun Karakok
AAAYDIN ACARBAY
AYDIN ACARBAY
İNİsmail Nazli
İsmail Nazli
ONUR ALKANONUR ALKAN
ONUR ALKAN
MGMahmut Gumus
Mahmut Gumus
Objective: Metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) demonstrates substantial clinical heterogeneity, and outcomes may vary despite similar treatment approaches. The hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet (HALP) score has emerged as a potential prognostic biomarker reflecting nutritional, inflammatory, and immune status. This study evaluated the prognostic significance of HALP in patients with mUC treated with first-line platinum-based chemotherapy.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated patients with metastatic or unresectable urothelial carcinoma who received first-line platinum-based chemotherapy at a single center between january 2015 and december 2023. HALP scores were calculated using baseline laboratory parameters obtained before treatment initiation. Patients were stratified according to the median HALP value. Overall survival (OS) was the primary endpoint, and progression-free survival (PFS) was the secondary end point. Survival analyses were performed using the Kaplan – Meier and Cox regression methods.Results: A total of 118 patients were included. The median HALP value was 24; 64 patients were classified as low HALP and 54 as high HALP. Patients with low HALP had significantly poorer outcomes. Median PFS was 4.90 months in the low HALP group and 7.67 months in the high HALP group. Median OS was 5.82 and 20.33 months, respectively (p<0.001). In multivariable analysis, low HALP and age ≥ 65 years remained independently associated with worse OS.Conclusion: Low HALP score was associated with worse survival outcomes in patients with mUC receiving first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. As an easily obtainable laboratory-based index, HALP may provide additional prognostic information beyond conventional clinical factors.