Applied Research in Oncology

The VP7 research programme – Applied Research in Oncology focuses on scientific activities in the field of translational tumour research, experimental oncological surgery, preclinical and clinical laboratory diagnostics, image and text data processing and analysis, scientific use of virtual reality, and the establishment of a 3D printing centre.

The research programme (VP7) focuses on four areas of research.

Solid tumours
Proteomics
3D printing & data mining
VR and motion analysis

1. Solid tumours

The solid tumours research area focuses on diagnoses with high clinical need. The aim is to link clinical data, pathology and molecular analyses in order to better understand tumour biology and identify prognostic and predictive markers that can be used in a more personalised approach to treatment. Two research teams are involved in this part of the programme:

Head & Neck Cancer Research Group

The group focuses on research into the oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) tumour microenvironment, including interactions between tumour cells, stroma and the immune system. It also studies the mechanisms of perineural invasion (PNI) with a focus on neurotropic signalling and the influence of the microbiome on invasive and immune tumour phenotypes.

Lung Cancer Research Group

The group focuses on the molecular and expression heterogeneity of highly aggressive lung tumours (especially SCLC/LCNEC) and the identification of biologically and clinically relevant subtypes and biomarkers. It combines genomic, transcriptomic and protein approaches and creates a basis for follow-up preclinical and clinical studies and for comparing the expression of selected therapeutic targets across the main histological types of lung carcinomas.

Head: RNDr. Matouš Hrdinka, Ph.D.

2. Proteomics

The Proteomics research direction deals with the development of methods for the analysis of small and large molecules using liquid chromatography in combination with mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Real samples consist of blood (serum, plasma). In the analysis of large protein molecules (in proteomic analysis), samples of various tissues (liver, heart, kidneys, etc.), including adipose tissue, are used. These new methods of analysis have enormous potential for expanding diagnostic tools for a wide variety of diseases.

One of the research activities is the determination of monoclonal antibodies to drugs (trastuzumab, pertuzumab) used in biological treatment of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer.

Another activity is the determination of the level of the stress hormone cortisol in saliva, including the determination of the methodology for collecting, storing and measuring samples of this hormone.

In the analysis of small molecules, a multi-method for the analysis of a large portfolio of selected drugs (51 drugs) in human serum using LC-MS/MS has been developed and validated. The specification of this multi-method is the single preparation of samples for the determination of all substances in one analysis.

In the future, this group would like to focus on untargeted analyses of pathological proteins (biomarkers) of specific diseases such as amyloidosis, granulomatous mastitis and multiple myeloma.

Head: Mgr. Pavel Šištík, Ph.D.

3. 3D tisk & Data mining

The research direction of 3D printing & data mining consists of two research areas.

3D printing centre

One of them is the establishment of a 3D printing centre, whose primary goal is to implement 3D printing and modelling into everyday routines using tools such as preoperative planning, visualisation of anatomical conditions, preparation and training for operations and surgical procedures, as well as the creation of patient-specific devices such as aids in rehabilitation, radiotherapy or cardiology.

With its focus, the 3D printing centre has the potential to be used in preoperative planning, teaching and hands-on courses using highly realistic biomimetic anatomical models.

Data mining

Data mining is a specialised activity focused on working with image and text data, analysing and evaluating them using machine learning and artificial intelligence. Pilot projects include the segmentation of brain metastases, the segmentation of the vascular system of the abdominal cavity, the development of an application for bulk data extraction from hospital systems or smart wearable electronics, advanced analysis of biomedical data, and more.

Head: doc. Ing. Lukáš Knybel, Ph.D.

4. VR and motion analysis

VR and motion analysis is a research field focused on new technologies in oncological surgery, biomedical research, applied virtual reality, biosensorics, psychophysiology, experimental neurosurgery, and anatomy. Last but not least, it also focuses on image recognition and classification using neural networks.

Projects within this research field focused on virtual reality are mainly oriented towards physiotherapy, patient motivation, education, visualisation, quality of life and other aspects related to patients undergoing cancer treatment, post-surgery and to reduce their discomfort during treatment. They are also designed for the automatic analysis and localisation of parts of the human body by processing images using a depth camera, which is used to diagnose and monitor neurological diseases, detect poor posture, gait asymmetry, and monitor patients after surgery.

Head: Ing. Lucie Stará

Cooperation with other VPs and collaborating entities

Due to very strong interdisciplinary links, the VP7 research team cooperates not only across its internal subtasks, but also on some sub-activities with research teams from other research programmes, e.g.:

VP9 subtask 1 HA1 – VP7 and VP9 are jointly developing newly designed tools for liver tissue biopsy with the possibility of radiofrequency treatment of the puncture channel after insertion, with the VP7 team responsible for defining the input requirements and boundary conditions, participating in the development of a functional prototype and in vivo testing, while the technological development is carried out by VP9
VP9 subtask 4 HA2 – VŠB will deliver the developed SW (VP9) based on FNO parameters, which (VP7) will implement SW testing in a medical environment
VP9 subtask 4 HA2 – during the development of new software (VP9), VP7 will define the basic parameters and ensure that the robustness of the algorithm is tested on clinical data
VP6 – VP6 and VP7 together identify molecular changes in tumour cells of patients in resistant/aggressive stages of monoclonal gammopathies and validate and functionally characterise gene mutations

The Ostrava University Hospital (FNO) and the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Ostrava are involved in the implementation of VP7.

The Ostrava University Hospital acts as a professional guarantor and ensures the interconnection of individual research activities on a practical and clinical level, while the staff of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Ostrava involved in this research programme will enable the interconnection of activities with the scientific and research background of the faculty and the applicability of knowledge to the educational process of students of the University of Ostrava and other R&D staff of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Ostrava.

The individual activities, outputs and benefits of VP7 also have the potential to be reflected in the content of University of Ostrava’s doctoral study programmes.

Links to individual study programmes:

Head of the research program

doc. MUDr. Ing. Jakub Cvek, Ph.D.
E-mail:

Updated: 20. 02. 2026