An expert meeting of the project " Pre-application research of drugs for oncological diseases and for the prevention and treatment of serious complications caused by them" (OncoPharm) took place on Wednesday, 14 May 2025, in Hradec Králové at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University. The project is co-financed by the European Union and focuses on intersectoral research cooperation in the field of pharmacotherapy of oncological diseases with the aim of increasing the effectiveness of anti-cancer treatment and maximizing therapeutic benefit for the patient.
The meeting was opened by the project's principal investigator, Prof. Vladimír Wsól, who, together with project manager Anna Opitz, M.Sc., presented the substantive progress of the project implementation. The financial aspects were summarized by Tereza Steklíková, M.Sc. The subsequent discussion provided an opportunity to reflect on the progress made so far and other administrative and organizational aspects of the project.
The expert program then focused on the research objectives that form the basis of the project. Work package 1 (WP1), led by Prof. Vladimír Wsól, focuses on the study of drug resistance mechanisms in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), breast, and lung cancers. In cooperation with the University Hospital Hradec Králové, the expression of drug transporters and biotransformation enzymes in patients is being analyzed, with results correlated with clinical data. A key component is the development of a diagnostic kit utilizing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for predicting the risk of treatment failure in AML patients. Simultaneously, the potentially synergistic effect of new targeted drugs in combination with currently used clinical drugs in breast and lung cancers is being studied.
Work package 2 (WP2), led by Prof. Martina Řezáčová, directly follows the first part of the research and focuses on the development of new anti-cancer drugs. WP2 combines the research of natural alkaloids and their derivatives with the design of synthetic tyrosine kinase inhibitors, especially FLT3 inhibitors. Substances are tested on cancer cell lines with the aim of identifying promising candidates for further development, including the evaluation of their effect and mechanism of action in comparison with reference drugs. Within WP2, effective cooperation also takes place between the Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University, the Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, Charles University, and the University Hospital Hradec Králové.
Work package 3, led by Prof. Tomáš Šimůnek, focuses on increasing the cardiovascular safety of anthracycline cytostatics. The research concentrates on the development of new selective topoisomerase II inhibitors that would protect heart cells from the toxic effects of the treatment. Special attention is paid to the differences in action on cancer and healthy cells and the study of molecular mechanisms of cardiotoxicity for the design of effective protective strategies. Research activities and results to date were presented by Assoc. Prof. Jaroslav Roh for the Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, and Assoc. Prof. Martin Štěrba for the Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Hradec Králové.
Representatives of all research objectives presented the current progress of their work, expert activities, publication output, work on patent applications, and cooperation with the application sphere. The presentations by representatives of WP1-3 also outlined planned research activities for the upcoming period. Further comprehensive evaluation and sharing of progress among all teams will take place during the project's first off-site conference planned for autumn 2025.
The final part of the program was led by dr. Jiří Demuth, who presented the updated Data Management Plan and reminded attendees of the principles of open access to scientific data and publications in accordance with Open Science principles, including rules for reporting publications and expert contributions to the Managing Authority of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.
An important symbolic dimension of the project is also the OncoPharm logo, which visually refers to the concept of modern theranostics – the connection of diagnostics and therapy within one targeted and personalized approach to treatment. This principle also reflects the project's expert direction, which strives for precise and gentle oncological therapy with the possibility of continuous monitoring of its effectiveness. The OncoPharm project thus continues to connect excellent research with applied development and aims to contribute to modern, personalized, and safer oncological care.
We wish you much success in achieving further project goals and look forward to the next meeting within the OncoPharm project!
More information can be found on the project website: www.faf.cuni.cz/OncoPharm.
Prof. Vladimír Wsól
Ing. Mgr. Anna Opitz
Text: Ing. Mgr. Anna Opitz
Photo: Ing. Jan Škop
The project Pre-application research of drugs for oncological diseases and for the prevention and treatment of serious complications caused by them (OncoPharm), project ID CZ.02.01.01/00/23_021/0008442, is co-funded by the European Union.
