Chordoma Doctors Abroad — Page 2

Associate Professor Dr. Yusuf AÇIKGÖZ
Specialization: Medical Oncology

Education:

• 2004-2011: İnönü University Faculty of Medicine
• 2011-2016: Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Internal Medicine
• 2017-2022: Health Sciences University, Medical Oncology

Professional Experience:

• 2016-2017: Bingöl City Hospital, Internal Medicine
• 2021-2022: Health Sciences University, Medical Oncology
• 2022-2023: Kastamonu Education and Research Hospital, Medical Oncology
• 2023-2024: Ohio State University, Medical Oncology
• 2024-Present: Lokman Hekim University, Medical Oncology, Ankara Hospital

Clinical Trials, Courses, Certifications:

Clinical Trials:

• 2017-2021: Phase III, CheckMate-649 Study (Assistant Investigator)
• 2022-Present: Phase III, Fortitude-101 Study (Assistant Investigator)

Courses:

• 2018: Medicres Basic and Advanced Biostatistics Training Program (ongoing), Istanbul-Vienna
• 2019: Immuno-Oncology Education Course, March 1-2, 2019, Vienna, Central European Cooperative Oncology Group (CECOG)
• 2018: Good Clinical Practice Certification, April 7-8, 2018, Ankara, Health Sciences University
• 2017: Basic Oncology Training Program, November 25-26, 2017, Adana, Clinical Oncology Society
• 2016: Basic Ultrasonography Course (10 hours theoretical + 10 hours practical), September 24-25, 2016, Ankara, Turkish Emergency Medicine Association

Certifications:

• Ongoing: ECFMG Certification
• 2024: CITI Responsible Conduct of Research (The Ohio State University)
• 2024: CITI IACUC-Laboratory Animal Research (The Ohio State University)
• 2024: CITI Human Subjects Protection (The Ohio State University)
• 2024: CITI Good Clinical Practice (The Ohio State University)
• 2023: Occupational English Test (OET)
• 2019: International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Total Score: 6.5, May 26, 2019, Ankara, British Council
• 2017: USMLE Step 2 CK Exam; Score: 244, February 7, 2017
• 2016: USMLE Step 1 Exam; Score: 215, August 25, 2016

Memberships:

• American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) - 2022
• Turkish Society of Medical Oncology - 2020

Education and Specialization

• 2006: Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine
• 2014: Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Internal Medicine
• 2018: Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Medical Oncology

Experience

• 2006 - 2008: Konya Derebucak District Hospital
• 2009 - 2015: Akdeniz University Hospital
• 2015: Antalya Kaş State Hospital
• 2015 - 2016: İnönü University Faculty of Medicine
• 2016 - 2021: Akdeniz University Hospital
• 2021 - 2023: Antalya Training and Research Hospital

Assoc. Prof. Atakan Topçu, M.D., is a medical oncologist at Medipol University and Medipol Acıbadem Regional Hospital. He treats solid tumors, including lung, breast, colorectal, gastric, and neuroendocrine cancers. His work also covers targeted therapies, immunotherapy, geriatric oncology, and cancer-related malnutrition, cachexia, and sarcopenia.

He has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed papers. Recent work includes a 2024 Frontiers in Medicine study on geriatric syndromes and a 2023 Future Oncology paper on sarcopenia and anxiety in lung cancer. He has also published on the CONUT score in breast cancer and on malnutrition in HER2-negative metastatic gastric cancer.

Dr. Topçu serves on the Editorial Board of BMC Cancer. He is a member of the Turkish Society of Medical Oncology, ESMO, and the Turkish Geriatrics Society. Education and training: M.D., Uludağ University; residency in Internal Medicine, Marmara University; fellowship in Medical Oncology, Bezmialem Vakıf University.

Dr. Irfan Cicin is a Professor of Medical Oncology at the Trakya University Faculty of Medicine (2015–present). He has over 20 years of medical oncology experience and has held academic roles since 2010.

Education: MD, Istanbul University – Cerrahpaşa (1991–1997). Residency in Internal Medicine, Trakya University (1997–2002). Fellowship in Medical Oncology, Trakya University (2002–2004).

Practice: Medical Oncologist, Trakya University (2005–2008). Medical Oncologist, Elazığ Training and Research Hospital (2008–2010). Associate Professor of Medical Oncology, Trakya University (2010–2015). He previously served as a physician in the Turkish Air Force at Etimesgut Military Hospital (2004–2005).

Associate Professor Nail Paksoy is a highly regarded medical oncologist specialising in the treatment of rare and complex sarcomas at Medipol Bahçelievler University Hospital.

• Holds ESMO Board Certification in Medical Oncology, an international gold standard for cancer care
• Investigated target-based therapies and NTRK-fusion treatments in global clinical trials
• Expert in Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT) for targeted treatment of neuroendocrine tumours
• Published extensive research on salvage therapies for advanced metastatic sarcoma cases

Dr. Muhammed Mustafa Atci is an Associate Professor of Medical Oncology at İstinye University, Liv Hospital Topkapı (2025–present). He previously served as Associate Professor and Education Coordinator at Prof. Dr. Cemil Taşcıoğlu City Hospital (2023–2025). He was also a Medical Oncologist there (2018–2021).

He has been a member of ASCO and the Turkish Society of Medical Oncology since 2018. He is the author or co-author of 19 peer-reviewed international papers on colon, breast, gastric, pancreatic, lung, thyroid, sarcoma, and colorectal cancers.

Notable works include a multicentre study on stage IIB colon cancer survival (Journal of Chemotherapy). He also studied the De Ritis ratio for lung metastasis in testicular cancer (Current Urology). His prognostic studies used PET/CT, MSI, lymph node ratio, and metabolic tumor volume.

Professor Turkan Ozturk Topcu is a medical oncology specialist at Biruni University Hospital with training from leading North American cancer centres.

• Completed clinical rotations at MD Anderson Cancer Center and Moffitt Cancer Center in the USA
• Specialises in managing sarcomas and tumours of the skeletal system
• Fellowship trained at the Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Center Breast Cancer Clinic in Canada
• Member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the European Society for Medical Oncology

The doctor completed specialization training in Radiation Oncology at Marmara University Faculty of Medicine from 2012 to 2016. Prior to this, the doctor completed an undergraduate degree in Medicine, taught in English, at the same institution from 2004 to 2011. The doctor has a strong foundation in medical education, beginning with high school education at Sixteen Numbered Shirvan School in Azerbaijan from 1998 to 2004.

Associate Professor Dr. Emrah Eraslan graduated from Ankara University Faculty of Medicine in 2005. From 2006 to 2011, he worked as a research assistant in the Department of Internal Medicine at Ankara University Faculty of Medicine and became an internal medicine specialist in 2011. Between 2011 and 2013, he worked as an internal medicine specialist and chief physician at Dr. Nafiz Körez Sincan State Hospital and Palu District State Hospital. From 2013 to 2016, he received medical oncology training at Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Education and Research Hospital and worked there until 2021. In 2023, he became an associate professor and contributed to his field with his publications throughout his career. He currently serves his patients at Koru Ankara Hospital. His medical interests include:

Breast Cancer

Prostate Cancer

Lung Cancer

Colorectal Cancer

Stomach Cancer

Ovarian Cancer