Gamze Bildik Elcik, PhD
Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Instructor, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2019 | Koç University, Istanbul, TR, Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Ph.D |
| 2016 | Koç University, Istanbul, TR, Reproductive Biology, M.S |
| 2013 | Istanbul University, İstanbul, TR, Molecular Biology and Genetics, BS |
Postgraduate Training
| 2019-2024 | TRIUMPH Postdoctoral Fellowship, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
Honors & Awards
| 2024 | The Barnhart Award in Targeted Therapies, MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2023 | Inspiration Award, Hopper-Belmont Foundation |
| 2022 | Mentored Investigator Award, Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA) |
| 2021 | Outside-the-Box Award, HERA Ovarian Cancer Foundation |
| 2020 | Diane Denson Tobola Fellowship in Ovarian Cancer Research, MD Anderson Cancer Center |
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Bildik G, Gray JP, Mao W, Yang H, Ozyurt R, Orellana VR, De Wever O, Carey MS, Bast RC, Lu Z. DIRAS3 induces autophagy and enhances sensitivity to anti-autophagic therapy in KRAS-driven pancreatic and ovarian carcinomas. Autophagy 20(3):675-691, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38169324.
- Esmaeilian Y, Yusufoglu S, Iltumur E, Bildik G, Oktem O. Visualizing Lipophagy as a New Mechanism of the Synthesis of Sex Steroids in Human Ovary and Testis Using Immunofluorescence Staining Method. Methods Mol Biol, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38411886.
- Liang X, Jung SY, Fong LW, Bildik G, Gray JP, Mao W, Zhang S, Millward SW, Gorfe AA, Zhou Y, Lu Z, Bast RC. Membrane anchoring of the DIRAS3 N-terminal extension permits tumor suppressor function. iScience 26(11):108151, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37915607.
- Esmaeilian Y, Hela F, Bildik G, Iltumur E, Yusufoglu S, Yildiz CS, Yakin K, Kordan Y, Oktem O. Autophagy regulates sex steroid hormone synthesis through lysosomal degradation of lipid droplets in human ovary and testis. Cell Death Dis 14(5):342, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37236920.
- Esmaeilian Y, Hela F, Bildik G, Akin N, Iltumur E, Yusufoglu S, Yildiz CS, Keles I, Vatansever D, Taskiran C, Yakin K, Oktem O. IVF characteristics and the molecular luteal features of random start IVF cycles are not different from conventional cycles in cancer patients. Hum Reprod 38(1):113-124, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36367834.
- Timofeeva N, Ayres ML, Baran N, Santiago-O'Farrill JM, Bildik G, Lu Z, Konopleva M, Gandhi V. Preclinical investigations of the efficacy of the glutaminase inhibitor CB-839 alone and in combinations in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Front Oncol 13:1161254, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37228498.
- Bildik G, Esmaeilian Y, Hela F, Akin N, Iltumur E, Yusufoglu S, Yildiz CS, Yakin K, Oktem O. Cholesterol uptake or trafficking, steroid biosynthesis, and gonadotropin responsiveness are defective in young poor responders. Fertil Steril 117(5):1069-1080, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35292154.
- Vatansever D, Incir S, Bildik G, Taskiran C, Oktem O. In-vitro AMH production of ovarian tissue samples in culture correlates with their primordial follicle pool. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 254:138-140, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32971433.
- Bildik G, Akin N, Esmaeilian Y, Hela F, Yakin K, Onder T, Urman B, Oktem O. hCG Improves Luteal Function and Promotes Progesterone Output through the Activation of JNK Pathway in the Luteal Granulosa Cells of the Stimulated IVF Cycles†. Biol Reprod 102(6):1270-1280, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32163131.
- Bildik G, Esmaeilian Y, Vatansever D, Bilir E, Taskiran C, Oktem O. A comparative molecular analysis of DNA damage response, cell cycle progression, viability and apoptosis of malignant granulosa cells exposed to gemcitabine and cisplatin. Mol Biol Rep 47(5):3789-3796, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32277442.
- Bildik G, Akin N, Esmaeilian Y, Hela F, Yildiz CS, Iltumur E, Incir S, Karahuseyinoglu S, Yakin K, Oktem O. Terminal differentiation of human granulosa cells as luteinization is reversed by activin-A through silencing of Jnk pathway. Cell Death Discov 6(1):93, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 33042587.
- Güralp O, Bese T, Bildik G, Demikiran F, Ü I, Malik E, Arvas M, Ö Ö. The mammalian target of rapamycin protein expression in human granulosa cell tumors. J Turk Ger Gynecol Assoc 20(4):247-254, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30592193.
- Bildik G, Akin N, Seyhan A, Esmaeilian Y, Yakin K, Keles I, Balaban B, Ata B, Urman B, Oktem O. Luteal granulosa cells from natural cycles are more capable of maintaining their viability, steroidogenic activity and LH receptor expression than those of stimulated IVF cycles. Hum Reprod 34(2):345-355, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30520979.
- Guzel Y, Bildik G, Dilege E, Oktem O. Sphingosine-1-phosphate reduces atresia of primordial follicles occurring during slow-freezing and thawing of human ovarian cortical strips. Mol Reprod Dev 85(11):858-864, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29995320.
- Bildik G, Acilan C, Sahin GN, Karahuseyinoglu S, Oktem O. C-Abl is not activated in DNA damage-induced and Tap63-mediated oocyte apoptosis in human ovary. Cell Death Dis 9(10):943, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30237472.
- Bildik G, Akin N, Senbabaoglu F, Esmalian Y, Sahin GN, Urman D, Karahuseyinoglu S, Ince U, Palaoglu E, Taskiran C, Arvas M, Guzel Y, Yakin K, Oktem O. Endogenous c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activity marks the boundary between normal and malignant granulosa cells. Cell Death Dis 9(4):421, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29549247.
- Guzel Y, Bildik G, Oktem O. Sphingosine-1-phosphate protects human ovarian follicles from apoptosis in vitro. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 222:19-24, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29331755.
- Oktem O, Akin N, Bildik G, Yakin K, Alper E, Balaban B, Urman B. FSH Stimulation promotes progesterone synthesis and output from human granulosa cells without luteinization. Hum Reprod 32(3):643-652, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28158500.
- Oktem O, Bildik G, Senbabaoglu F, Lack NA, Akin N, Yakar F, Urman D, Guzel Y, Balaban B, Iwase A, Urman B. Cytotoxicity and mitogenicity assays with real-time and label-free monitoring of human granulosa cells with an impedance-based signal processing technology intergrating micro-electronics and cell biology. Reprod Toxicol 60:82-91, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 26746109.
- Yuksel A, Bildik G, Senbabaoglu F, Akin N, Arvas M, Unal F, Kilic Y, Karanfil I, Eryilmaz B, Yilmaz P, Ozkanbas C, Taskiran C, Aksoy S, Guzel Y, Balaban B, Ince U, Iwase A, Urman B, Oktem O. The magnitude of gonadotoxicity of chemotherapy drugs on ovarian follicles and granulosa cells varies depending upon the category of the drugs and the type of granulosa cells. Hum Reprod 30(12):2926-35, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26466914.
- Bildik G, Akin N, Senbabaoglu F, Sahin GN, Karahuseyinoglu S, Ince U, Taskiran C, Selek U, Yakin K, Guzel Y, Ayhan C, Alper E, Cetiner M, Balaban B, Mandel NM, Esen T, Iwase A, Urman B, Oktem O. GnRH agonist leuprolide acetate does not confer any protection against ovarian damage induced by chemotherapy and radiation in vitro. Hum Reprod 30(12):2912-25, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26466909.
Other Articles
- Yildiz S, Bildik G, Benlioglu C, Turan V, Dilege E, Ozel M, Kim S, Oktem O Breast cancer treatment and ovarian function. Reprod Biomed Online 46(2):313-331, 2023. PMID: 36400663.
- Bildik G, Liang X, Sutton MN, Bast RC, Lu Z DIRAS3: An Imprinted Tumor Suppressor Gene that Regulates RAS and PI3K-driven Cancer Growth, Motility, Autophagy, and Tumor Dormancy. Mol Cancer Ther 21(1):25-37, 2022. PMID: 34667114.
Selected Presentations & Talks
National Presentations
- 2024. DIRAS3 inhibits oncogenic RAS signaling and RASdependent cell growth driven by prevalent KRAS hot spot mutations. Conference. American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024, US.
- 2022. Helical stapled peptides derived from DIRAS3 block KRAS dimerization and downstream MEK/ERK signaling in pancreatic and ovarian carcinomas. Conference. American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022, US.
- 2021. Structural and biochemical properties of DIRAS3 N-terminal extension that permit its function as a tumor suppressor of oncogenic K-RAS. Conference. American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021, US.
- 2021. DIRAS3 induces autophagy and enhances sensitivity to anti-autophagic therapy in KRAS-driven pancreatic and ovarian carcinomas. Poster. AACR Annual Meeting, US.
- 2018. A comprehensive comparative transcriptional and translational analyses of the impact of ovarian response type, stimulation protocol and mode of trigger on the luteal function. Poster. 74th Annual Meeting of the ASRM. Denver, Colorado, US.
International Presentations
- 2022. Ovarian and uterine damage after chemotherapy and radiation: Mechanisms and Prevention. Invited. The 10th Scientific Meeting of the Turkish Society of Reproductive Medicine. Kyrenia, CY.
- 2022. Molecular mechanisms of chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-induced ovarian and uterine damage. Invited. Fertility Preservation Course and Hands-on Workshop of the Turkish Society of Reproductive Medicine Fertility Preservation Special Interest Group. Izmir, TR.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2022 - 2024 |
| Title: | Mentored Investigator Award |
| Funding Source: | Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance |
| Role: | Trainee |
| Date: | 2021 - 2022 |
| Title: | 2021 Outside-the-Box Grant |
| Funding Source: | HERA Ovarian Cancer Foundation |
| Role: | Trainee |
| Date: | 2019 - 2022 |
| Title: | TRIUMPH Postdoctoral Fellowship |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) |
| Role: | Trainee |
| Date: | 2018 - 2019 |
| Title: | TUBITAK |
| Funding Source: | The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey |
| Role: | Trainee |
| Date: | 2014 - 2019 |
| Title: | Research Center for Translational Medicine |
| Funding Source: | Koç University |
| Role: | Trainee |
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified March 27, 2025