Tarih: 08.05.2025
Lokman Hekim University brought together the worlds of health and science at its symposium titled ‘Innovative Approaches in Cancer Treatment,’ held on 8–9 May 2025. The event, which took place in the University's A Block Conference Hall, focused on current cancer treatment methods.
Over the course of two days, the symposium explored innovative approaches that have gained prominence in recent years, including immunotherapies, targeted therapies, CAR-T cell therapy, and cancer vaccines. Experts in the field, including academics, physicians, and researchers, shared scientific advancements in cancer treatment with participants, fostering interdisciplinary knowledge exchange.
One of the prominent names at the symposium, Prof. Dr. Bülent ÖZPOLAT, attracted attention with his groundbreaking work in targeted therapies and molecular oncology. Prof. Dr. Özpolat gave an impressive presentation focusing on new-generation treatment strategies developed against the resistance mechanisms of cancer cells.
Prof. Dr. Apar PATAER, on the other hand, shared the latest developments in translational oncology and, in particular, the latest findings on immunotherapies with the participants. Innovative models and combined treatment strategies that have been transferred to clinical practice were discussed in scientific depth in Dr. Pataer's presentation.
‘Targeted Therapies and Immunotherapies’ Under the Spotlight
During the morning sessions of the event, Prof. Dr. Serpil SAK spoke on ‘The role of medical pathologists in targeted therapies and immunotherapy planning for cancer patients,’ highlighting the guiding power of pathology in modern treatment processes. Prof. Dr. Ajlan TÜKÜN then gave a presentation on ‘Circulating biomarkers in the follow-up of patients with solid tumours,’ highlighting the importance of these biomarkers in early diagnosis and monitoring.
Genetic and Molecular Approaches to Treatment Take Centre Stage
In the afternoon sessions, Prof. Dr. Serdar CEYLANER highlighted the potential of personalised treatment methods in his presentation titled ‘The Future of Targeted Therapies,’ while Prof. Dr. Bülent ÖZPOLAT shared new treatment strategies developed using microRNA and small molecules for aggressive solid cancers.
New Treatment Approaches with Examples from Turkey and Around the World
Prof. Dr. Hakan AKBULUT, in his talk titled ‘Innovative Treatments in Cancer: The Turkish Experience,’ shared the striking results of clinical and experimental studies conducted in our country. In the same session, Prof. Dr. Erdem BÜYÜKBİNGÖL shared exciting developments related to the discovery of new drug candidates using artificial intelligence with the participants.
In the final presentation of the day, Prof. Dr. Alper İSKİT highlighted the innovative aspects of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) processes and nano-drug applications in cancer treatment using experimental models.
Emphasis on Scientific Sharing and Collaboration
A total of 10 presentations were delivered during three separate sessions held throughout the event, and question-and-answer sessions followed each presentation to facilitate interaction among participants. The event attracted significant interest from healthcare professionals, academics, students, and researchers.
On the second day of the symposium, Prof. Dr. Bülent ÖZPAOLAT and Prof. Dr. Apar PATAER, along with our medical faculty students, young researchers, and academics, shared their insights on international collaboration and vision.
Prof. Dr. A. Berna DURSUN, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Lokman Hekim University, emphasised the significant importance of such scientific events in developing collective intelligence in the fight against cancer and increasing treatment success rates.
