Mgr. Paula Hoffmanová
Ph.D. Student
Cancer Plasticity
Our team investigates fundamental mechanisms and translates findings from bench to bedside, combining preclinical models with clinical insight.
Researcher at ICRC with focus on translational medicine. Combines preclinical insights with clinical practice across cardiology, neurology, and oncology programs.
Currently leads / contributes to interdisciplinary projects bridging molecular biology, imaging, and patient care at St. Anne's University Hospital Brno.
Research Group
- Team size
- Team size: 13 Researchers
- Place
- Place: Building B1, 4th Floor
- Collaborates with
- Collaborates with Mayo Clinic, USA
Head of Research Group
- doc. Mgr. Karel Souček, Ph.D.
Members
Mgr. Andrea Rousová
Ph.D. Student
Kateřina Svobodová
Research Technician
Katarína Marečková
Research Technician
Mgr. Jana Ondřejová
Research Technician
Mgr. Lucia Knopfová, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Researcher
Mgr. Jarmila Navrátilová, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Researcher
prof. Mgr. Petr Beneš, Ph.D.
Head Researcher
Mgr. Stjepan Uldrijan, CSc.
Head Researcher
Kateřina Káňová
Lab Specialist
doc. Mgr. Karel Souček, Ph.D.
Senior Research Team Leader
Mgr. Ondřej Naar
Research Technician Specialist
Mgr. Matěj Přikryl
Research Technician Specialist
Team Assistant
Kateřina Svobodová
Administrative Support
Main Objectives
- Correlation of the plasticity of cancer cells with aberrant signaling, dissemination capability and chemoresistance.
- Description of heterogeneity of expression of markers defining most aggressive cells at single cell level within tumor.
- Introducing the methods for expansion and characterisation of clinical samples maintaining its original phenotype (e.g. patient-derived xenografts, 3D in vitro cultures of organoids/tumoroids).
Research focus
The major research interest is to understand the plasticity and heterogeneity of cancer cells and the role of the microenvironment in cancer progression. Cellular plasticity has been considered as a factor contributing to resistance to cancer chemotherapy and poor prognosis. Simultaneously, recurrence and chemoresistance of many types of cancers are believed to be tightly linked with the biology of cancer stem-like cells or tumor-initiating cells (CSCs/TICs) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs). There is increasing evidence that cancer plasticity induced by different stimuli is a source of CSCs/TICs/CTCs. Currently, we identified in vitro and in vivo experimental models showing heterogeneity in cancer cell plasticity in terms of CSC and plasticity profile. We are characterizing single cells and single cell-derived clones to understand molecular mechanisms associated with cell plasticity and its role in cancer progression, therapy resistance and generation of the cells with CSCs/TICs/CTCs-like properties.
Technological equipment
- Pre-clinical in vivo Imaging System – analysis of tumor progression and therapy response in small experimental animals
- Widefield High-Content Analysis System – automated microscope for multiparametric fluorescent cell analysis in 2D and 3D culture
- Seahorse XF Analyzer – analysis of changes in cell bioenergetics in real-time
Selected Results
- Total number of defended PhD students within the team (2011-2022): 13
- Total number of defended M.Sc. studends within the team (2011-2022): 26
- Muresan XM, Slabáková E, Procházková J, Drápela S, Fedr R, Pícková M, Vacek O, Víchová R, Suchánková T, Bouchal J, Kürfürstová D, Král M, Hulínová T, Sýkora RP, Študent V, Hejret V, van Weerden WM, Puhr M, Pustka V, Potěšil D, Zdráhal Z, Culig Z, Souček K. Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) overexpression induces invasion of prostate cancer cells, whereas its activation triggers apoptosis. Am J Pathol. 2022
- Lenárt S, Lenárt P, Knopfová L, Kotasová H, Pelková V, Sedláková V, Vacek O, Pokludová J, Čan V, Šmarda J, Souček K, Hampl A, Beneš P. TACSTD2 upregulation is an early reaction to lung infection. Sci Rep. 2022
- Drápela, S., Khirsariya, P., Van Weerden, W.M., Fedr, R., Suchánková, T., Búzová, D., Červený, J., Hampl, A., Puhr, M., Watson, W.R., Culig, Z., Krejčí, L., Paruch, K., and Souček, K. The CHK1 inhibitor MU380 significantly increases the sensitivity of human docetaxel-resistant prostate cancer cells to gemcitabine through the induction of mitotic catastrophe. Molecular Oncology. 2020
- Remšík J, Binó L, Kahounová Z, Kharaishvili G, Šimecková Š, Fedr R, Kucírková T, Lenárt S, Muresan XM, Slabáková E, Knopfová L, Bouchal J, Král M, Beneš P, Soucek K. Trop-2 plasticity is controlled by epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Carcinogenesis. 2018: 39, 1411-1418.
- Knopfová L, Biglieri E, Volodko N, Masařík M, Hermanová M, Glaus Garzón JF, Dúcka M, Kučírková T, Souček K, Šmarda J, Beneš P, Borsig L.Transcription factor c-Myb inhibits breast cancer lung metastasis by suppression of tumor cell seeding. Oncogene. 2018; 37: 1020-1030.
- Verlande A, Krafčíková M, Potěšil D, Trantírek L, Zdráhal Z, Elkalaf M, Trnka J, Souček K, Rauch N, Rauch J, Kolch W, Uldrijan S. Metabolic stress regulates ERK activity by controlling KSR-RAF heterodimerization. EMBO Rep. 2018; 19: 320-336.
- Samadder, P., Suchankova, T., Hylse, O., Khirsariya, P., Nikulenkov, F., Drapela, S., Strakova, N., Vanhara, P., Vasickova, K., Kolarova, H., Bino, L., Bittova, M., Ovesna, P., Kollar, P., Fedr, R., Esner, M., Jaros, J., Hampl, A., Krejci, L., Paruch, K., and Soucek, K. Synthesis and Profiling of a Novel Potent Selective Inhibitor of CHK1 Kinase Possessing Unusual N-trifluoromethylpyrazole Pharmacophore Resistant to Metabolic N-dealkylation. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. 2017; 16, 1831-1842.
