Professor Dr. Sühendan Ekmekçioğlu from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center gave a conference on immune therapy (Immunotherapy), one of the innovative methods used in cancer treatment, within the scope of the “Periodic Conferences” series organized by DESAM Research Institute at Near East University. At the conference, where immunotherapy was evaluated over skin cancer “melanoma”, the relationship of skin cancer with other cells around the cancerous area was examined with patient samples.

The conference, followed by Near East University Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, was held with intense participation of academicians and students.

Giving information at the conference on “The Role of the Tumor Immune Micro Environment in Cancer”, Prof. Dr. Ekmekçioğlu said that immune therapy treatments started to be used in 2018 and have become one of the leading treatments in cancer treatment in the meantime.

“We are investigating what effect the tumor environment has on patients”
Explaining the differences between a normal skin mass and a melanoma (cancerous) skin cell in his presentation, Prof. Dr. Ekmekçioğlu emphasized the importance of determining the interaction of the tumor region with the surrounding tissues. Explaining that they have done dozens of studies to examine the interaction of cancerous tissue with surrounding tissues, Prof. Dr. Ekmekçioğlu also gave information about the results they obtained.

Expressing that the toxic response of the tumor to immune treatments was investigated in a recent study with a very large group, Prof. Dr. Ekmekçioğlu said that throughout the studies they conducted among skin cancer groups, they investigated the results of the treatments applied in the patients and the reasons for the differences between the cases. Prof. Dr. Ekmekçioğlu said, “We are investigating the effect of the tumor’s environment in these patients. For now, many of our studies are still in the discovery phase. In the digital environment, we now choose which cell in the tumor we are interested in. Then we continue to work on a cell type.”

Stating that as a result of all these studies, it was discovered how important the structure of the tumor’s immune microenvironment is, Prof. Dr. Ekmekçioğlu said, “Actually, when we examine this structure, we can reach much more detailed and solution-oriented results. Neighborhoods between tissues affect the course of the disease a lot, we see them. The conference ended with Prof. Dr. Ekmekçioğlu answering the questions of the participants after his presentation.

Who is Prof. Dr. Sühendan Ekmekçioğlu?
Having completed his doctorate on Tumor Biology and Immunology at Istanbul University, Oncology Institute, Prof. Dr. Sühendan Ekmekçioğlu conducted post-doctoral research at the University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center. He started his studies in the experimental treatments department and later continued in the Melanoma Medical Oncology Department. Today, he continues his studies on the “Role of Tumor Micro Environment in the Response to Immune Treatments” at the same department. Having the support of the NIH and other research funds, Prof. Dr. Ekmekçioğlu works on the effect of tumor immune microenvironment on patient survival, immune toxicity in response to treatment, and digital platforms and imaging methods.