Berrin Zik

Publications (3)3.86 Total impact

• Article: sFas levels increase in response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy in lung cancer patients.

  Engin Ulukaya, Ceyda Acilan, Meryem Yilmaz, Arzu Yilmaztepe-Oral, Ferda Ari, Berrin Zik, Ahmet Ursavas, Asuman H Tokullugil
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  ABSTRACT: The Fas/Fas Ligand (FasL) system and survivin have counteracting roles in cell survival. Therefore, we explored the role of circulating soluble Fas (sFas) and the tissue levels of Fas and survivin with regard to response to chemotherapy in lung cancer patients. Serum samples from 52 lung cancer patients and 54 control subjects (19 benign lung disease and 35 healthy control subjects) were collected prior to and 24 and 48 h after chemotherapy. sFas was statistically significantly higher in the cancer group than that in the control groups (p < 0.001). Baseline (before chemotherapy) sFas values showed a statistically significant inverse correlation with overall survival (r = -0.599, p < 0.001). There was a significant increase in serum sFas levels 24 h after treatment (p < 0.05). Contrarily, tissue levels of Fas and survivin were not changed following the chemotherapy (p > 0,05). In conclusion, increased sFas may be an indicator of poor outcome in lung cancer patients. However, cisplatin-based chemotherapy may not be effective via neither the Fas/FasL system nor survivin pathway. Indeed, larger sample size is required for further evaluation.
  Cell Biochemistry and Function 10/2010; 28(7):565-70. · 1.77 Impact Factor
• Article: Histological investigations on the effects of feeding a diet containing red hot pepper on the reproductive organs of the chicken.

  Aytekin Ozer, Hatice Erdost, Berrin Zik
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  ABSTRACT: In the present study the growth and reproductive organ differences in chickens fed a diet containing 1% red hot pepper (10 g/kg diet) from the first day of age were investigated. In birds fed with the experimental diet it was observed that the abdominal fat content decreased. During the experiment the increase in weight gain in the treated group in the first 4 months was reversed in favour of the control group in month 5. Follicular development in the treated group was faster and laying started 11 days before the control group, and the epithelial and muscular development of the oviduct was always greater than that of the control group. The results indicated that red hot pepper consumed in lower concentrations during the development period in the chickens caused faster development of the reproductive system organs. Laying started 11 days earlier in chicks fed with the red hot pepper added diet, an important economic aspect for egg producers, but which may have implications for other animals. A decrease in abdominal fat content and disorders of lipid metabolism are still under investigation.
  Phytotherapy Research 07/2005; 19(6):501-5. · 2.09 Impact Factor
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  Available from: Engin Ulukaya

  Article: The Expressions of pAkt and PTEN in Lung Cancer Patients 24 Hours After the Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy: A Prospective Pilot Study

  Engin Ulukaya, Artay Yagci, Berrin Zik, Alper Sevimli, Arzu Y Oral, Ferda Ari, Semra Akgoz, Sibel Bayer, Ahmet Ursavas
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  ABSTRACT: Akt/PKB is a protooncogen while PTEN is a tumor suppressor gene. Their expressions are of immense importance in the development of lung cancer. However, little is known about their relations to anti-cancer treatments. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate how are these parameters affected by the treatment. Expression of phosphorylated Akt (pAkt) and PTEN have been analysed on tissues of 32 patients (stage III and IV) with lung cancer. In addition, the expression of these variables in 14 out of 32 patients have furtherly been analysed in terms of their response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy in vivo. Prior to and 24 h after the treatment, tumor tissues were obtained via broncoscopy and then evaluated immunohistochemically by indirect streptavidin-biotin peroxidase method. Immunoreactivity for pAkt was detected in 29 of 32 cases (91%). pAkt was observed to localize in the nucleus of positively stained cells. However, PTEN expression was found in 27 of 32 cases (84%). In contrast to the localization of pAkt that is nucleus, PTEN was however localized in the cytoplasm of positively stained cells. pAkt and PTEN expression levels of 14 post-chemotherapy patients were compared to those before chemotherapy. There was no statistically significant differen-ces (p>0.05). Although these results do not imply any possible roles of pAkt or PTEN in the late stage lung cancer patients as a biomar-ker for the prediction of early response to treatment in vivo, this conclusion needs to be analyzed further at later time points in a larger cohort.