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!

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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

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 two-week course aims not only at teaching surgical techniques and procedures in extensive practical exercises, but also at introducing the possibilities, limits and boundaries of the field. For the purposes of the Summer School, we also run moderately popular Facebook page and Youtube channel. 

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.

The Team

Main team members

Main collaborators from other faculty departments