About / Lab Staff
Chief Assist. Prof. Atanaska Velichkova Mitkova, PhD
Education:
2000 Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Molecular
Biology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
1992 MSc degree in Biotechnology and Gene and Cell Engineering, Joined BS
and MS Program, Biological Faculty, University St. Kliment Ohridski,
Sofia, Bulgaria
Previous and Current Employment:
2011 Chief Assist. Prof. in the Department of Medical Chemistry and
Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Medical University, Sofia, Bulgaria
2009 – Project Manager of the Molecular Medicine Center, Medical
University, Sofia, Bulgaria
2008–2010 Assist. Prof. in the Department of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry,
Medical Faculty, Medical University, Sofia, Bulgaria
2006 – 2008 Postdoctoral Fellow in the Molecular Medicine Center, Medical
University, Sofia, Bulgaria
2003 - 2005 Postdoctoral Fellow/ Instructor, Kummel Cancer Center/ Department of
Bioscience Technologies, College of Health Professions; Thomas
Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
2000 – 2002 Postdoctoral Fellow in the laboratory of Prof. S.B. Biswas, PhD; UMDNJ-
SOM, Stratford, NJ, USA
1993 – 1999 Specialist Biologist in the Institute of Molecular Biology,
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
Language proficiency:
English, Russian
Research interests:
Oncogenetics/ oncogenomics; Signal transduction; Epigenetics/ epigenomics and gene expression in cancer; diagnostic, prognostic markers and target therapy in cancer
TEACHING EXPERIÅNCE:
BT 303 Molecular Preparatory Techniques; Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA Fall 2003
BT 420 Cell and Tissue Culture Techniques; Spring 2004, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA
Medical Biochemistry; Medical University, Sofia, 2008 – present
PARTICIPATION IN SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZATIONS:
European Society of Human Genetics
European Association of Cancer Research
Breast Cancer Linkage Consortium
Participation in research projects:
Principal Investigator
2007 – 2008 Influence of mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes on development of breast cancer and prostate cancer in Bulgaria, Medical University - Sofia
2009 – 2010 Analysis of large deletions, insertions and rearrangements in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in Bulgarian patients with familial breast cancer, Medical University – Sofia
2010-2013 Follow up of circulating tumor cells (CTC) levels in patients with metastatic breast carcinoma - prognostic and predictive meaning, National Science Fund, Ministry of Education Youth and Science, Bulgaria
Co-Investigator
2010-2013 Analysis of clinical and molecular characteristics of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and their application for prediction of prognosis and treatment response, Ministry of Youth, Education and Science, Bulgaria, PI Dr. T. Goranova
2010-2011 Enhancing the capacity of the cores Cell and Tissue Cultures, Microarray and Laser Microdissection in Molecular Medicine Center, Medical University - Sofia, infrastructural project, Coordinator Prof. V. Mitev
2009-2012 Promoter hypermethylation of biomarkers in urine, associated with prostate cancer and evaluation of their diagnostic and prognostic value in Bulgarian patients, Medical University - Sofia, PI Prof. C. Slavov
2009-2012 National University Complex in Biomedical and Translational Research, Ministry of Youth, Education and Science, Bulgaria, infrastructural project, Coordinator Prof. V. Mitev
2009-2011 Study of the genetic variations, associated with increased risk and identification of diagnostics and prognostics markers for prostate cancer, Ministry of Youth, Education and Science, Bulgaria, PI Prof. C. Slavov
2009-2011 Clinical and molecular markers with predictive value for survival, quality of life and treatment response in high-grade gliomas, National Science Fund, Ministry of Youth, Education and Science, Bulgaria, PI Prof. N. Gabrovsky
2009 -2010 Analysis of polymorphic variants in candidate genes associated with prostate cancer, Medical University – Sofia, PI Prof. C. Slavov
2008-2010 Enhancing the capacity of the Molecular Medicine Center, Medical University-Sofia for functional genomic, proteomic and metabolomic research, National Science Fund, Ministry of Education and Science, Bulgaria, PI Prof. V. Mitev
2008 – 2010 Molecular pathways involved in mammary gland cancer, National Science Fund, Ministry of Education and Science, PI Assoc. Prof. E Georgieva
2008 – 2009 Analysis of large genome deletions, insertions and rearrangements in MLH1 and MLH2 genes in Bulgarian patients with colorectal cancer, Medical University-Sofia, PI Chief Assist. Prof. R. Kaneva
2006-2008 Establishing a SNP Genotyping and Gene Expression Core at Molecular Medicine Centre, Medical University, Sofia, National Science Fund, Ministry of Education and Science, Bulgaria, Coordinator Prof. V. Ovcharov
2005-2008 Study of the molecular basis of the endometrial cancer in Bulgaria, National Science Fund, Ministry of Education and Science, Bulgaria, PI Assoc. Prof. N. Doganov
Publications:
1. Êote-Jarai Z, Olama AA, Giles GG, Severi G, Schleutker J, Weischer M, Campa D,Riboli E,...Kaneva R, ...Slavov C, Mitev V,...The RACTICAL Consortium…Popov E, Kachakova D, Mitkova A, Goranova T, Stancheva G…, Easton DF, Eeles RA. Seven prostate cancer susceptibility loci identified by a multi-stage genome-wide association study.. Nat Genet. 2011 Jul 10;43(8):785-91. doi: 10.1038/ng.882.
2. Vlaykova T, Mitkova A, Stancheva G, Kadiyska T, Gulobova M, Yovchev GC, Chilingirov P, Kostadinov E, Damyanov D, Kremensky I, Mitev V (2011) "Microsatellite instability and promoter hypermethylation of MLH1 and MSH2 in patients with sporadic colorectal cancer J BUON 16 (2)16 (2): 265-273.
3. Eeles RA, Kote-Jarai Z, Al Olama AA, Giles GG, Guy M, Severi G, Muir K, Hopper JL, Henderson BE, Haiman CA, Schleutker J, Hamdy FC, Neal DE, Donovan JL, Stanford JL, Ostrander EA, Ingles SA, John EM, Thibodeau SN, Schaid D, Park JY, Spurdle A, Clements J, Dickinson JL, Maier C, Vogel W, Dörk T, Rebbeck TR, Cooney KA, Cannon-Albright L, Chappuis PO, Hutter P, Zeegers M, Kaneva R, … Slavov C, Mitkova A, … Popov E, Kachakova D, Dodova R, Belcheva O, Nikolov M, Mitev V,… (2009) Identification of seven new prostate cancer susceptibility loci through a genome-wide association study. Nat Genet 41(10):1116-21.
4. Kremensky I, Kaneva R, Mitkova A, Beltcheva O, Kamenarska Z, Nikolov M, Saraeva R, Kamenarova K, Yordanova I, Angelova M, Genova Z, Dimitrova S, Yankova V, Jordanova A, Mitev V, Ovcharov V (2007) Establishing a SNP Genotyping and Gene Expression Core at Molecular Medicine Centre, Medical University, Sofia, Advances in Bulgarian Sciences 2007, vol 2, p. 22-34.
5. Mitkova, AV, Biswas-Fiss, EE and Biswas, SB (2005) Modulation of DNA Synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Nuclear Extract by DNA polymerases and the Origin Recognition Complex. J. Biol. Chem 280(8), 6285-92.
6. Mitkova, A., Khopde, SM and Biswas, SB (2003) Mechanism and stoichiometry of interaction of DnaG primase and DnaB helicase of Escherichia coli in RNA primer synthesis J. Biol. Chem., 278, 52253-52261.
7. Mitkova, AV, Biswas, EE and Biswas, SB (2002) Cell cycle specific plasmid DNA replication in the nuclear extract of Saccharomyces cerevisiae: modulation by replication protein A and proliferating cell nuclear antigen. Biochemistry 41, 5255-5265.
8. Todorova, J, Mitkova, A, Bakalova, A, Ivanov, O, Dolapchiev, L and Michailova, P (2000) The effect of Cr3+ on two model species of family Chironomidae, Diptera-heat shock response and heat shock proteins 70. Biologia, Bratislava 55, 709-716.
9. Mitkova, AV, Stoynov. SS, Bakalova, AT and Dolapchiev, LB (1999) Emergence of the active site of spleen exonuclease upon association of the two basic monomers of the tetrameric enzyme. Int. J. Biochem and Cell Biol. 31, 1399-1407.
10. Mitkova, AV, Bakalova, AT, Stoynov, SS and Dolapchiev, LB (1998) Oligomeric protein structure of beef spleen exonuclease. Archiv. Biochem. Biophys. 351, 236-242.
11. Mitkova, AV, Stoynov, SS, Bakalova, AT, and Dolapchiev, LB (1999) New procedure for purification of the exonuclease from beef spleen. Comt. Rend. Bulg. Acad. Sci. 52, 33-37.
12. Stoinov, SS, Bakalova, AT, Dimov, SI, Mitkova, AV, and Dolabchiev, LB (1997). Single-strand- specific DNase activity is an inherent property of the 140-kDa protein of the snake venom exonuclease. FEBS Leters 409, 151-154.
13. Getova, TA, Monova, D, Mitkova, A and Kojouharova, M (1997) Detection of antiribosomal autoantibodies in human sera. Balkan J. Clin. Lab. 4, 23-27.
14. Bakalova, AT, Mitkova, AV and Dolabchiev, LB (1995) Hydrophobic Behaviour of Beef Spleen Exonucleease, Compt Rend Acad. Bulg Sci., 48, 89 - 92.
Presentations:
1. Kachakova D, Popov E, Mitkova A, Beltcheva O, Vlahova A, Dikov T, Christova S, Slavov C, Mitev V, Kaneva R, “Promoter hypermethylation of HIST1H4K and RASSF2 in urine from prostate cancer patients”, European Association for Cancer Research conference, 7-10 July 2012, Barcelona, Spain, European Journal of Cancer, Vol.48, Supplement 5, 520, pp. S123-124.
2. Marinova D, Stancheva G, Kachakova D, Mitkova A, Slavova Y, Maksimov V, Kaneva R, Mitev V, “Gene expression of EGFR and Mina53 in different histological subtypes of lung cancer”, European Association for Cancer Research conference, 7-10 July 2012, Barcelona, Spain, European Journal of Cancer, Vol.48, Supplement 5, p. S148-149.
3. Marinova D, Kachakova D, Stancheva G, Slavova-Marinova Y, Maksimov V, Mitkova A, Kaneva R, Mitev V, “Gene expression analysis of MEN1 and EGFR in operated for primary lung cancer patients”, 24th European Congress of Pathology, 8-12 September 2012, Prague, Czech Republic, Virhows archive, The European Journal of Pathology, Vol. 461, Supplement 1, p. S169.
4. Dododva R, Dacheva D, Vlahova A, Dikov T, Christova S, Valev S, Taushanova M, Timcheva K, Kaneva R and Mitkova A. Mutation screening of BRCA1 gene in Bulgarian breast cancer patients, The 22nd Meeting of European Association for Cancer Research 7-10 July 2012, Barcelona, Spain, European Journal of Cancer, Vol. 48, Supplement 5, p. S164.
5. Dodova R, Bozhanov S, Nikolov I, Garanina Z, Mitkova A, Kaneva R, Mitev V and Georgieva E. PIK3CA mutation screening in bulgarian breast cancer patients, International Conference on Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, 20-21 September 2012, Varna, Bulgaria. Abstract book, Poster 22. 59.
6. Rumyana Dododva, Darina Kachakova, Aleksandrina Vlahova, Tihomir Dikov, Svetlana Christova, Spartak Valev, Margarita Taushanova, Constanta Timcheva, Vanio Mitev, Radka Kaneva and Atanaska Mitkova. Association of polymorphisms in low-penetrance genes with breast cancer risk in Bulgarian cohort of familial cases and controls. The European Human Genetics Conference, 22-26 June 2012, Nuremberg, Germany
7. Rumyana Dodova, Daniela Dancheva, Aleksandrina Vlahova, Tihomir Dikov, Svetlana Hristova, Spartak Valev, Constanta Timcheva, Vanio Mitev, Radka Kaneva, and Atanaska Mitkova. Large genomic aberrations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in Bulgarian breast cancer patients. Poster presentation. The European Human Genetics Conference, 28-31 May 2011, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
8. Kachakova D, Popov E, Mitkova A, Dodova R, Vlahova A, Dikov T , Christova S, Slavov C, Mitev V and Kaneva R, “Association analysis in Bulgarian prostate cancer patients adds support to a newly identified susceptibility locus on chromosomo 8q24”, The European Human Genetics Conference (ESHG 2011), 28-31 May 2011, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
9. Dodova RI, Dancheva D, Vlahova A, Dikov T, Hristova S, Valev S, Timcheva C, Mitev V, Kaneva R, Mitkova A. Large genomic aberrations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in Bulgarian breast cancer patients; European Human Genetics Conference (ESHG 2011), May 28 – May 31 2011, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
10. Dacheva DR, Dodova R, Vlahova A, Dikov T, Christova S, Valev S, Timcheva C, Mitev V, Kaneva R, Mitkova A. Mutation screening of BRCA2 exon11 in Bulgarian breast cancer patients; European Human Genetics Conference (ESHG 2011), May 28 – May 31 2011, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
11. Stancheva G, Tzveova R, Jordanov S, Mitkova A, Chalakov I, Kaneva R, Mitev V and Goranova T. Promoter hypermethylation of CDKN2A gene in Bulgarian patients with Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Poster presentation, The 4th International Congress of Molecular Medicine, 27-30 June 2011, Istanbul, Turkey.
12. Goranova T, Stancheva G, Mitkova A, Kaneva R, Kamenova M, Laleva M, Velinov N, Poptodorov G, Mitev V, Gabrovsky N. MGMT promoter methylation in Bulgarian patients with glial tumors Poster presentation, The 4th International Congress of Molecular Medicine, 27-30 June 2011, Istanbul, Turkey.
13. Stancheva G, Goranova T, Laleva M, Kamenova M, Mitkova A., Velinov N, Kaneva R, Poptodorov G, Mitev V. and Gabrovsky N. IDH1, IDH2 and TP53 mutations in Bulgarian patients with glial tumours. Poster presentation, European Human Genetics Conference (ESHG 2011), 28-31 May 2011, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
14. Tzveova R, Stancheva G, Jordanov S, Mitkova A, Chalakov I, Kaneva R, Mitev V and Goranova T. Promoter hypermethylation of DNA repair genes in Bulgarian patients with laryngeal carcinoma. Poster presentation, European Human Genetics Conference (ESHG 2011), 28-31 May 2011, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
15. Goranova T, Stancheva G, Mitkova A, Kaneva R, Poptodorov G, Velinov N, Mitev V, Gabrovsky N. Mutations in IDH1 and TP53 as prognostic biomarkers in Bulgarian patients with gliomas Poster presentation. The 9th Meeting of European Association of Neurooncology 16-19 September 2010, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
16. Goranova T, Stancheva G, Mitkova A, Kaneva R, Poptodorov G, Velinov N, Mitev V, Gabrovsky N. IDH1 and IDH2 mutations in Bulgarian patients with glial tumours Poster presentation. The 21st Meeting of European Association for Cancer Research 26-29 June 2010, Oslo, Norway.
17. Stancheva G, Goranova T, Jordanov S, Mitkova A, Chalakov I, Poptodorov G, Kaneva R, Mitev V, Gabrovsky N, Kunev K. Promoter hypermethylation in Bulgarian patients with glial and laryngeal cancer Poster presentation. The 21st Meeting of European Association for Cancer Research 26-29 June 2010, Oslo, Norway.
18. Mitkova A, Stancheva G, Goranova T, Kadiyska T, Kostadinov E, Vlaykova T, Gulubova M, Damyanov D, Mitev V, Kaneva R. Large genomic aberrations in MSH2 and MLH1 genes in Bulgarian colorectal cancer patients European Association for Cancer Research, 26-29 June 2010, Oslo, Norway
19. Dodova R, Mitkova A, Caulevska M, Vlahova A, Dikov T, Sedloev T, Jonkov A, Kremensky I, Christova S, Mitev V and Kaneva R. Association of polymorphisms in BRCA1 gene with breast cancer risk in Bulgarian familial cases. European Association for Cancer Research Conference, 26-29 June 2010, Oslo, Norway.
20. Kachakova D, Popov E, Mitkova A, Dodova R, Vlahova A, Dikov T, Christova S, Slavov C, Mitev V and Kaneva R, Association study of polymorphic variants in chromosome locus 8q24 linked with prostate cancer in Bulgarian patients, European Association for Cancer Research 26-29 June 2010, Oslo, Norway.
21. Kachakova D, Popov E, Mitkova A, Dodova R, Vlahova A, Dikov T, Christova S, Slavov C, Mitev V and Kaneva R, Polymorphic variants in CYP1B1 linked with increased risk for prostate cancer in Bulgarian patients, The European Human Genetics Conference, 12-15 June 2010, Gothenburg, Sweden.
22. Popov E, Kachakova D, Boyadjieva M, Mitkova A, Dodova R, Vlahova A, Dikov T, Christova S, Kremensky I, Slavov C, Mitev V, Kaneva R, Role of genetic polymorphism in SRD5A2 gene in progression of prostate cancer, IX International Congress of Medical Sciences,, 13-16 May 2010, Sofia, Bulgaria.
23. Popov E, Kachakova D, Mitkova A, Kaneva R, Vlahova A, Dikov T, Slavov C, Mitev V, Kremensky I, Prostate cancer risk association with SNP polymorphic variants of CYP1B1 gene in the Bulgarian population, 25th Anniversary EAU (European Association of Urology) Congress, 16-20 April 2010, Barcelona, Spain.
24. Mitkova A, Dodova R, Caulevska M, Vlahova A, Dikov T, Sedloev T, Jonkov A, Kremensky I, Christova S, Mitev V and Kaneva R. Mutation screening of BRCA1 exons 2, 11, and 20 in Bulgarian breast cancer patients. European Human Genetics Conference, 23 – 26 May 2009, Vienna, Austria. European J. Human Genet. 17(2): 190.
25. Dodova R, Mitkova À, Vlahova A, Dikov T, Sedloev T, Jonkov A, Kremensky I, Christova S, Mitev V and Kaneva R. Association of polymorphisms in BRCA1 exon 11 with breast cancer risk in Bulgaria. 8th Balkan Meeting on Human Genetics, 14 – 17 May 2009, Cavtat, Croatia.
26. Kaneva R, Kachakova D, Mitkova A, Popov E, Vlahova A, Dikov T, Christova S, Kremensky I, Mitev V, and Slavov C, CYP1B1 polymorphic variants associated with prostate cancer risk in Bulgaria, Poster presentation. European Human Genetics Conference, 23 – 26 May 2009, Vienna, Austria.
27. Kachakova D, Mitkova A, Popov E, Vlahova A, Dikov T, Christova S, Kremensky I, Mitev V, Kaneva R, and Slavov C, Association of SRD5A2 polymorphic variants with prostate cancer risk in Bulgaria, Poster presentation. 8th Balkan Meeting on Human Genetics, 14 – 17 May 2009 Cavtat, Croatia.
28. Hristova SL, Bichev SN, Mitkova AV, Vlahova AI, Dikov TI, Kaneva RP, Kremensky IM KRAS mutation as a new target in colorectal carcinoma. A pilot study. 22nd European Conference of Pathology, 4 -9 September, Florence, Italy. The European Journal of Pathology. Archiv Vol. 455 supplement 1. s211/p2.92.
29. Mitkova À, Dodova R, Vlahova A, Dikov T, Sedloev T, Jonkov A, Kremensky I, Christova S and Kaneva R. Mutation screening of BRCA1 exon 11 in Bugarian breast cancer families – 20th Conference of European Association of Cancer Research 5-8 July 2008, Lyon, France.
30. Vlaykova T, Gulubova M, Mitkova A, Stancheva G, Vlaykova D, Cirovski G, Yovchev Y, Chilingirov P, Kaneva. Microsatellite instability may have a positive effect on the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer International Scientific Conference of R. Union of Scientists, Stara Zagora 5-6 June, 2008, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.
31. Mitkova, A.V, Vlajkova T, Stancheva G. et al. (2008) Microsatellite instability and promotor hypermethylation of MLH1 and MSH2 in Bulgarian patients with sporadic colorectal cancer European J. Human Genet. 16(2): 193.
