Medical Oncology
Prof. Dr. Nil Molinas Mandel
Head of Medical Oncology at VKV American Hospital and Koç University in İstanbul. One of the most senior medical oncologists in Türkiye, with over four decades of clinical practice. A pioneer in precision oncology and personalized treatment approaches.
Biography
Prof. Dr. Nil Molinas Mandel is one of the doyennes of Turkish medical oncology, with a career spanning more than four decades. She graduated from Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine in 1978 and completed her internal medicine specialty training at the same institution. She earned the rank of full Professor in 1994, making her one of the earliest female professors of medical oncology in Türkiye.
For decades, she served on the faculty at Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa, where she trained generations of medical oncologists and contributed extensively to clinical research in breast cancer, lung cancer, and gynecologic malignancies. Her academic work laid the groundwork for many of the precision oncology protocols now in use across Turkish cancer centers.
In 2008, Prof. Dr. Molinas Mandel moved to VKV American Hospital, where she heads the Medical Oncology department in affiliation with Koç University School of Medicine. She has been instrumental in pioneering precision oncology approaches at the hospital, integrating molecular profiling and biomarker-driven treatment selection into routine clinical practice. She continues to publish in leading oncology journals and mentors the next generation of oncology specialists.
Education & Training
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1994
Full Professor of Medical Oncology
Promoted to full Professor at Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, recognizing decades of clinical and academic contributions to medical oncology.
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Post-1978
Internal Medicine Specialty — Cerrahpaşa
Internal medicine specialty training at Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, followed by subspecialization in medical oncology.
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1978
Doctor of Medicine — Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa
MD degree from Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine.
Career & Positions
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2008–Present
Head of Medical Oncology · VKV American Hospital & Koç University
Leads the Medical Oncology department at VKV American Hospital in affiliation with Koç University School of Medicine, overseeing clinical care, precision oncology initiatives, and multidisciplinary tumor boards.
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1978–2008
Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine
Three decades of academic and clinical career at Cerrahpaşa, progressing from resident to full Professor. Trained generations of medical oncologists and led clinical research programs in breast, lung, and gynecologic cancers.
Areas of Expertise
Breast Cancer
Comprehensive management of all breast cancer subtypes — HER2-positive, hormone-receptor-positive, and triple-negative — including neoadjuvant, adjuvant, and metastatic regimens tailored through molecular profiling and personalized treatment selection.
Lung Cancer
Non-small cell lung cancer treatment with targeted therapy for driver mutations (EGFR, ALK, ROS1, KRAS) and immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors, coordinated with thoracic surgeons and radiation oncologists.
Gynecologic Cancers
Systemic treatment of ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancers, including platinum-based chemotherapy, PARP inhibitors, and immunotherapy options for advanced and recurrent disease.
Personalized & Precision Medicine
Biomarker-driven treatment selection using next-generation sequencing and comprehensive genomic profiling, ensuring each patient receives the most effective therapy matched to their tumor's molecular signature.
Approach to Patient Care
Prof. Dr. Molinas Mandel's approach to patient care is deeply patient-centered and multidisciplinary. Every complex case is discussed in a tumor board that includes medical oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, pathologists, geneticists, and psycho-oncologists. She believes that the best treatment plan emerges from the collective expertise of a diverse team, and she ensures that patients are active participants in their own care decisions.
For international patients, Prof. Dr. Molinas Mandel coordinates closely with referring physicians abroad to ensure continuity of care. Pathology and imaging are re-evaluated against international guidelines, and she provides detailed treatment plans that can be shared with the patient's oncology team at home. Her department maintains partnerships with leading cancer centers in Europe and the United States for complex second-opinion consultations.
Memberships & Affiliations
- European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)
- European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO)
- International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC)
- American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
- Turkish Society of Medical Oncology