Laboratory of Cancer Treatment and Tissue Regeneration
Václav Liška et al. at the Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Czech Republic
Lab Profile
The Laboratory of Cancer Treatment and Tissue Regeneration, led by Prof. Václav Liška, M.D., Ph.D., is one of the laboratories of the Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Czech Republic.
The main research focus of the lab is regeneration of parenchymal organs in relation to extensive surgical procedures. Our goal is to develop and/or experimentally verify all possibilities to improve the surgical treatment of patients with cancers, especially liver malignancies. The core of our work is experimental surgery in large animal models, which is supplemented by closely interconnected research of imaging methods, organ structure and perfusion, and clinical aspects of cancer treatment as well as by development of in-house image analysis and mathematical modelling software. We also focus on tissue engineering strategies to evaluate the use of a porcine-derived scaffold (obtained via decellularization) as matrix to be functionalized in vitro with in-house developed bioreactors.
We are always searching for researchers and collaborators, so do not hesitate to get in touch with us!
The Research
In our experimental surgery projects, we have established (in domestic pig) experimental models of steatohepatitis associated with chemotherapy, toxic alcoholic liver disease, and biliary cirrhosis.
We also develop software for advanced image analysis to predict regeneration capacity of the liver parenchyma and diagnose focal and diffuse liver diseases. Computational modelling features developed in collaboration with the Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of West Bohemia, Pilsen, are being continuously implemented in the software.
We also focus on imaging of portal system microcirculation and we explore the possibilities to apply our findings in clinical practice.
We are exploring the possibility to use decellularized porcine tissue as scaffold for the in vitro functionalization with human cells in our own bioreactors for tissue engineering.
We closely cooperate with the Labs of Pharmacogenomics, Translational Cancer Genomics, Tumor Biology and Quantitative Histology and we try to transfer their research results to our clinical requirements and applications.
Long-term research aims
regeneration of liver parenchyma and liver surgery
liver and other tissue decellularization for regenerative medicine
design of bioreactors for tissue engineering purposes
portal micro- and macrocirculation
reconstruction of portal system
surgical and oncological treatment of malignancies
immune system behaviour during progression of tumour disease
The Summer School
Each summer, the team of the Laboratory of Cancer Treatment and Tissue Regeneration organise the international Summer School of Experimental Surgery for pre-graduate medical students.
The course lasts two weeks and aims not only to teach the students surgical techniques and procedures in extensive practical exercises, but also to introduce them to the possibilities, limits and boundaries of the field as well as to the related areas of biomedical research. For the purposes of the Summer School, we also run moderately popular Facebook page and Youtube channel.
The Team
Prof. Václav Liška, M.D., Ph.D., Head of Laboratory
Main team members
Vladimíra Moulisová, M.Sc., Ph.D., biochemist
Jan Brůha, M.D., Ph.D., surgeon
Richard Pálek, M.D., Ph.D., surgeon
Jáchym Rosendorf, M.D., Ph.D., surgeon
Ondřej Vyčítal, M.D., Ph.D., surgeon
Petr Hošek, M.Eng., Ph.D., statistician, biomedical engineer
Miroslav Jiřík, M.Eng., Ph.D., software engineer
Lenka Červenková, MVDr., PhD student, phatologist
Maria Stefania Massaro, M.Eng, PhD student, biomedical engineer
Robert Polák, M.D., PhD student, surgeon
Sima Šarčević, M.D., PhD student, surgeon
Jan Ševčík, M.D., PhD student, surgeon
Pavel Krystl, M.D., anesthesiologist
Zuzana Fišerová, assistant
Petra Havlíčková, B.Sc., assistant
Lenka Kuberková, assistant
Nela Štorková, Ph.D., M.Sc., assistant
Marek Brousil, medical student
Ondřej Brzoň, B.Sc., medical student
Martin Faško, medical student
Daniel Lehner, medical student
Ilya Matsviayonak, medical student
Yehor Pankratiev, medical student
Tomaš Polenda, medical student
Martin Strouhal, medical student
David Volák, medical student
Daniel Vydra, medical student
Main collaborators from other faculty departments
Jan Benes, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Anaesthesiology and Resuscitation
Lada Eberlová, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Anatomy
Lukáš Bolek, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Biophysics
Jiří Dejmek, M.Sc., Ph.D., Department of Biophysics
Martina Grajciarová, MVDr., Department of Histology and Embryology
Anna Malečková, M.D., Department of Histology and Embryology
Zbyněk Tonar, M.D., M.Sc., Ph.D., Department of Histology and Embryology
Jitka Škrabalová, M.Sc., M.A., Department of International Relations
Kristýna Bajcurová, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Imaging Methods
Eva Korčáková, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Imaging Methods
Hynek Mírka, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Imaging Methods
Jaroslav Hrabak, M.Sc., Ph.D., Department of Microbiology
Ondřej Fiala, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Oncology
Milan Stengl, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Physiology
Radka Václavíková, M.Sc., Ph.D., Laboratory of Pharmacogenomics
Simona Šůsová, M.Sc., Laboratory of Pharmacogenomics
Tomaš Sychra, M.D., Laboratory of Pharmacogenomics
Filip Ambrozkiewicz, M.D., Ph.D., Laboratory of Translational Cancer Genomics
Andriy Trailin, M.D., D.Sc., Ph.D., Laboratory of Translational Cancer Genomics
The Book
We have also created the book Experimental Surgery, which serves as a textbook for the Summer School, but we believe that it can be useful for many medical students and Ph.D. students interested in surgery and biomedical research in general.
In 2018, the book was awarded the Maydl Prize of the Czech Medical Association of J. E. Purkyně.
Liska V. (ed.) et al. Experimental Surgery. Pilsen: Nava, 2016. ISBN 978-80-7211-490-0.