General Surgery Prof. Dr. Mert Erkan
✓ Medically verified profileProf. Dr. Mert Erkan
✓ Medically verified profile
Quick answer
Prof. Dr. Mert Erkan is a General Surgery specialist with over 31 years of experience at Acibadem Atasehir Hospital in İstanbul.
His clinical focus includes digestive system surgery and minimally invasive pancreatic surgery, with involvement in hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery. He consults in Turkish and English and offers online video consultations.
About Prof. Dr. Mert Erkan
Prof. Dr. Mert Erkan is a General Surgery specialist with 31 years of experience. His listed areas of expertise include pancreatic surgery, gastric surgery, colorectal surgery, laparoscopic surgery, endoscopic surgery, cholecystectomy (removal of the gallbladder), surgery of the digestive system, and hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery.
Prof. Erkan graduated from Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine in 1995 and completed General Surgery training at Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine in 2001. He received a PhD from the University of Heidelberg in 2007. Technical University of Munich, Klinikum rechts der Isar granted him Associate Professor of General Surgery in 2011, and Koç University granted him Professor of General Surgery in 2017. He joined Acibadem Health Group in 2021. He sees patients at Acibadem Atasehir Hospital in İstanbul, Türkiye.
The profile lists 11 professional bodies, among them European Digestive Surgery/EDS, the European Pancreatic-Club/EPC, and the International Association of Pancreatology/IAP.
The profile lists 12 publications dated between 2005 and 2015. Listed publication subjects include pancreatic cancer, pancreatic stellate cells, and stromal processes in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The publications also address RNA detection and quantification in pancreatic cancer cells and tissues, epithelial cancer stem cells, and low rectal cancer surgery.
Prof. Erkan speaks Turkish and English. Online consultation is available, allowing patients abroad to speak with the doctor before travelling.
Meet Prof. Dr. Mert Erkan
Professor Mert Erkan Explains Colonic CancerEducation
- 2017Professor of General Surgery, Koç University
- 2014UAK Associate Professorship Equivalency
- 2011Associate Professor of General Surgery, Technical University of Munich, Klinikum rechts der Isar
- 2010Upper Specialization in Surgery of the Digestive System Technical University of Munich, Klinikum rechts der Isar
- 2007PhD, University of Heidelberg: Summa cum laude (highest honors). Thesis: The influence of tumor modulated microenvironment on pancreatic cancer behavior.
- 2001Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine General Surgery
- 2001General Surgery Specialist, Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Thesis: Retrospective evaluation of patients treated for iatrogenic biliary injury
- 1995Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine
Professional Experience
- 2021Acibadem Health Group
- 2021Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University Istanbul Turkey
- 2017–2021Koç University Translational Medicine Research Center
- 2017–2021Koç University Institute of Health Sciences
- 2014–2021Koç University School of Medicine Research Laboratory
- 2014–2021Koç University School of Medicine
- 2007–2014Pancreas Research Center , Technical University of Munich
- 2007–2014Technical University of Munich, Klinikum rechts der Isar
- 2003–2007Heidelberg University, General Surgery
- 2003–2007European Pancreas Research Center, University of Heidelberg
- 2001–2003Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, HPB Surgery Unit
- 1995–2001Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine
Professional Memberships
- European Digestive Surgery/ EDS 2003-
- The European Consortium on Minimally Invasive Pancreatic Surgery
- Istanbul Medical Chamber 1995-2021
- Europan/African Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association Scientific and Research Committee Member: 2014 – Present / Program committee: 2015 – 2019 / Pancreatic terminology committee founding member 2021 – 2021
- Bursa Medical Chamber 2021
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Allgemein- und Viszeralchirurgie (DGAV) 2007 – 2014
- European Pancreatic-Club/ EPC 2003-
- Deutscher Pankreas-Club/ DPC 2003-
- Turkish Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery Association: 1998 Board Member: 2015-2017
- International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (IHPBA) 2001-
- International Association of Pancreatology (IAP) 2003-
Selected Publications
- Mutant KRAS-driven cancers depend on PTPN11/SHP2 phosphatase. Karpathaki, Marlena Kowalska, Ezgi Kaya-Aksoy, Liang Song, Eveline A Zeeuw van der Laan, María P López-Alberca, Marc Nazaré, Maximilian Reichert, Diet DA Ruess, GJ Heynen, KJ Ciecielski, J Ai, A Berninger, D Kabacaoglu, Kivanc Görgülü, Zahra Dantes, Sonja M Wörmann, Kalliope N Diakopoulos, Angeliki F
- Combined inhibition of BET family proteins and histone deacetylases as a potential epigenetics-based therapy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Aayush Gupta, Irina Heid, Peter B Noël, Rickmer Braren, Mert Erkan,Nature medicine 2015 (280) PK Mazur, A Herner, SS Mello, M Wirth, S Hausmann, FJ Sánchez-Rivera, Shane M Lofgren, Timo Kuschma, Stephan A Hahn, Deepak Vangala, Marija Trajkovic-
- Intracellular autofluorescence: a biomarker for epithelial cancer stem cells. Manuel Hidalgo, Mert Erkan, …Nature methods 2014 (165) I Miranda-Lorenzo, J Dorado, E Lonardo, S Alcala, AG Serrano, Jenifer Clausell-Tormos, Michele Cioffi, Diego Megias, Sladjana Zagorac, Anamaria Balic,
- The role of stroma in pancreatic cancer: diagnostic and therapeutic implications. Nature reviews Gastroenterology & hepatology 2012 (476) M Erkan, S Hausmann, CW Michalski, AA Fingerle, M Dobritz, J Kleeff.
- StellaTUM: current consensus and discussion on pancreatic stellate cell research. Gut 2011 (365) M Erkan, G Adler, MV Apte, MG Bachem, M Buchholz, S Detlefsen, .
- Cancer-stellate cell interactions perpetuate the hypoxia-fibrosis cycle in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma Neoplasia 2009 (294) M Erkan, C Reiser-Erkan, CW Michalski, S Deucker, D Sauliunaite,
- Northern blot analysis for detection and quantification of RNA in pancreatic cancer cells and tissues Nature protocols 2009 (162) S Streit, CW Michalski, M Erkan, J Kleeff, H Friess.
- The activated stroma index is a novel and independent prognostic marker in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology 2008 (374) M Erkan, CW Michalski, S Rieder, C Reiser Erkan, I Abiatari, A Kolb
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of the role of defunctioning stoma in low rectal cancer surgery. Annals of surgery 2008 (592) N Hüser, CW Michalski, M Erkan, T Schuster, R Rosenberg, J Kleeff.
- Periostin creates a tumor-supportive microenvironment in the pancreas by sustaining fibrogenic stellate cell activity. Gastroenterology 2007 (330) M Erkan, J Kleeff, A Gorbachevski, C Reiser, T Mitkus, I Esposito, T Giese
- The neurotrophic factor artemin promotes pancreatic cancer invasion. Annals of surgery 2006 (159) GO Ceyhan, NA Giese, M Erkan, AG Kerscher, MN Wente, T Giese
- Loss of BNIP3 expression is a late event in pancreatic cancer contributing to chemoresistance and worsened prognosis. Oncogene 2005 (221) M Erkan, J Kleeff, I Esposito, T Giese, K Ketterer, MW Büchler, NA Giese, …
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dr. Mert Erkan's specialty?
Which hospital does Dr. Mert Erkan practise at?
What languages can I use when consulting Dr. Mert Erkan?
How can I book an appointment with Dr. Mert Erkan?
Is an online video consultation available with Dr. Mert Erkan?
How many years of experience does Dr. Mert Erkan have?
Can international patients arrange treatment with Dr. Mert Erkan?
How do I get a second opinion involving Dr. Mert Erkan?
A dedicated team, from first message to follow-up
Our international patient office coordinates your appointment, travel and treatment at JCI-accredited Acıbadem hospitals — and stays with you in your own language, every step of the way.
Schedule your appointment with Prof. Dr. Mert Erkan
Choose a date and time that suits you. Our international patient team will check availability and confirm your appointment — usually within 24 hours.
- 1Choose your date & timePick a preferred day and time slot for your visit.
- 2Share your detailsTell us how to reach you and anything we should know.
- 3We confirm with youOur team confirms the appointment by phone or email.
Request your appointment
This request goes directly to this doctor’s schedule.
Your information stays strictly confidential and is used only to arrange your care.
Hospitals
Medical Units
What patients say about Prof. Dr. Mert Erkan
★★★★★From 2,400+ verified patient reviews“I was nervous about my myomectomy, but I felt safe at every single step. Prof. Dr. Erkanlı explained every step clearly and never rushed me. Everything was clearly explained in my own language.”
“Choosing Acibadem for my appendix surgery was the best decision I made. Prof. Dr. Erkan was honest about my options instead of pushing treatment. I would happily travel here again for any treatment.”