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      Gamze Bildik Elcik Image

      Gamze Bildik Elcik, PhD

      Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine

      Present Title & Affiliation

      Primary Appointment

      Instructor, Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas

      Education & Training

      Degree-Granting Education

      2019Koç University, Istanbul, TR, Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Ph.D
      2016Koç University, Istanbul, TR, Reproductive Biology, M.S
      2013Istanbul University, İstanbul, TR, Molecular Biology and Genetics, BS

      Postgraduate Training

      2019-2024TRIUMPH Postdoctoral Fellowship, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas

      Honors & Awards

      2024The Barnhart Award in Targeted Therapies, MD Anderson Cancer Center
      2023Inspiration Award, Hopper-Belmont Foundation
      2022Mentored Investigator Award, Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA)
      2021Outside-the-Box Award, HERA Ovarian Cancer Foundation
      2020Diane Denson Tobola Fellowship in Ovarian Cancer Research, MD Anderson Cancer Center

      Professional Memberships

      American Society for Reproductive Medicine

      American Society of Clinical Oncology

      American Association for Cancer Research

      Selected Presentations & Talks

      National Presentations

      1. 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.
      2. 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.
      3. 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.
      4. 2021. DIRAS3 induces autophagy and enhances sensitivity to anti-autophagic therapy in KRAS-driven pancreatic and ovarian carcinomas. Poster. AACR Annual Meeting, US.
      5. 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

      1. 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.
      2. 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.
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      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

      Selected Publications

      Peer-Reviewed Articles

      1. Gray JP, Bildik G, Kim HN, Sutton MN, Wang J, Osuji AO, Batistatou N, Yang H, Mao W, Tan Z, Gasmi-Seabrook GMC, Liu J, Hancock JF, Marshall CB, Kritzer JA, Ikura M, Bast RC, Millward SW, Lu Z. DIRAS3-derived cyclic peptides disrupt KRAS-RAF interaction and KRAS nanoclustering, suppressing KRAS-driven pancreatic and ovarian tumors. iScience, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 41244592.
      2. Guo J, Santiago-O’Farrill JM, Orellana V, Ozyurt R, Yang H, Pina M, Bildik G, Mao W, Bast RC, Lu Z. DIRAS3 Inhibits Ovarian Cancer Cell Growth by Blocking the Fibronectin-Mediated Integrin β1/FAK/AKT Signaling Pathway. Cells 14(16), 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40862729.
      3. 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 2879:151-171, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38411886.
      4. 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.
      5. 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.
      6. 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.
      7. 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.
      8. 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.
      9. 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.
      10. 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.
      11. 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.
      12. 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.
      13. 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.
      14. 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.
      15. 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.
      16. 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.
      17. 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.
      18. 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.
      19. 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.
      20. 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.
      21. 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.
      22. 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.
      23. 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.

      Review Articles

      1. 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. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36400663.
      2. 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. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 34667114.

      Other Articles

      1. Esmaeilian, Y, Hela, F, Bildik Elcik, G, İltumur, E, Yusufoglu, S, Yakin, K, Oktem, O Discovery of autophagy as a universal mechanism for sex steroid synthesis in human ovary and testis. Autophagy Reports 2(1), 2023. PMID: 40395319.

      Abstracts

      1. Bildik G. Targeting PARP to Enhance Sensitivity to MEK Inhibitors in Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer. American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting, 2025. e-Pub 2025.
      2. Bildik G. DIRAS3 inhibits oncogenic RAS signaling and RAS-dependent cell growth driven by prevalent KRAS hot spot mutations. American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting; 2024, 2024. e-Pub 2024.
      3. Bildik G. Helical stapled peptides derived from DIRAS3 block KRAS dimerization and downstream MEK/ERK signaling in pancreatic and ovarian carcinomas. American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
      4. Bildik G. DIRAS3 induces autophagy and enhances sensitivity to anti-autophagic therapy in KRAS-driven pancreatic and ovarian carcinomas. American Association for Cancer Research, 2021. e-Pub 2021.
      5. Bildik G. Structural and biochemical properties of DIRAS3 N-terminal extension that permit its function as a tumor suppressor of oncogenic K-RAS. American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting, 2021. e-Pub 2021.
      6. Bildik G. A comprehensive comparative transcriptional and translational analyses of the impact of ovarian response type, stimulation protocol and mode of trigger on the luteal function. American Society for Reproductive Medicine, 2018. e-Pub 2018.
      7. Bildik G. FSH promotes premature progesterone output in human granulosa cells without luteinization by up-regulating the expression of 3βHSD and inducing disproportional increases between 17α-OH and other steroidogenic enzymes. American Society for Reproductive Medicine Annual Meeting, 2016. e-Pub 2016.
      8. Bildik G. Imatinib mesylate accelerates follicle death and is not protective against chemotherapy-induced damage in the human ovary. American Society for Reproductive Medicine Annual Meeting, 2016. e-Pub 2016.
      9. Bildik G. The expressions of ovarian steroidogenic enzymes do not increase proportionally after FSH, creating a shunting that promotes progesterone output in the granulosa cells without luteinization. European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, 2016. e-Pub 2016.
      10. Bildik G. GnRH agonist leuprolide acetate neither activates anti-apoptotic genes nor protects human ovary and granulosa cells from DNA damage and apoptosis induced by cyclophosphamide. American Society for Reproductive Medicine Annual Meeting, 2015. e-Pub 2015.
      11. Bildik G. Molecular evidence against the preventive actions of GnRH agonists in chemotherapy-induced damage in human ovary and granulosa cells. European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, 2015. e-Pub 2015.
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