Department of Animal Embryology, Cell and Tissue Diferentiation
Laboratory of Tumour Biology

Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, v.v.i.

Academy of the Sciences of the Czech Republic

Rumburska 89

277 21 Libechov

Czech Republic



Phone: +420 315 639 587
Fax: +420 315 697 186
E-mail: horakv@iapg.cas.cz

1968 – 1973	studies at the Charles University, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Prague (branch: general biology; specialization: animal genetics)
1974 – 1978	postgraduate student at the Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, v.v.i., Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Libechov
1979	M.Sc. – in Natural Sciences, the Charles University, Prague
1980	Ph.D. degree (Ph.D. Thesis: "Heterogeneity and ontogenetic development of skeletal muscle fibre types in minipigs and fowl")
1980 - 1987	researcher, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, v.v.i., Libechov
1988 - at present	senior researcher, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, v.v.i., Libechov
2001 - at present	Head of the Laboratory of tumour biology, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, v.v.i., Libechov

Experimental oncology; malignant melanoma; cancer immunotherapy; animal cells in vitro, their characterization and differentiation; developmental biology; stem cells

• CSF 524/01/0162 Development and spontaneous regression of hereditary malignant melanoma in miniature pigs, principal investigator, 2001-2003
• GA AS CR S5045113 Devitalization technique as a possible curative procedure in cancer therapy – preparation for clinical application, principal investigator, 2001-2004
• MEYS CR Barrande 2002-029 Characterization of hereditary cutaneous melanoma in miniature pigs, principal investigator, 2002-2003
• CSF 524/04/0102 A study of immunological answer after tumour devitalization in different animal models, principal investigator, 2004-2006
• MEYS CR Barrande 2-06-50 Immunological and molecular analysis of spontaneous regression of melanoma in the MeLiM swine model, principal investigator, 2006-2007.
• GA AS CR IAA600450601 Can the radiofrequency ablation induce anti-tumour imunity? – An experimental study in two animal cancer models, principal investigator, 2006-2008

• Czechoslovak biological society (member)
• Czech histo- and cytochemical society (member)
• European Society for Pigment Cell Research (member)

• Horak V.: A histochemical staining for succinate dehydrogenase and "reversed"-ATPase in a single section for the skeletal muscle fibre typing. Histochemistry 78: 545-553 (1983)
• Dvorak P., Dvorakova D., Hruban V., Horak V., Stanek R.: Monoclonal antibodies specific for pig serum and cell surface IgM. Res.Vet. Sci. 41: 356-360 (1986)
• Dvorak P., Hruban V., Horak V.: The distribution of class II molecules in the pig intestine. Folia Morphol. 35: 396-399 (1987)
• Fortyn K., Hradecky J., Hruban V., Horak V., Dvorak P., Tichy J.: Morphology of regenerative changes in the kidney following experimental ischemia. Int.Urol.Nephrol. 19: 9-19 (1987)
• Fortyn K., Kopac J., Horak V., Hruban V., Hradecky J., Dvorak P.: Changes of biochemical parameters in serum after experimental devitalization of the gut, Cas.Lek.ces. 126: 303-305 (1987) (in Czech)
• Hruban V., Nemec M., Trebichavsky I., Dvorak P., Horak V.: Cross reactivity of monoclonal antibodies specific for human HLA class II antigens with pig macrophages and B lymphocytes. Acta Vet. 37: 81-92 (1987)
• Matolin S., Melichna J., Havlickova L., Horak V.: Results of repeated histochemical analysis of muscle tissue biopsies. Folia Morphol. 35: 75-81 (1987)
• Horak V.: Histochemical fiber type composition in 12 skeletal muscles of miniature pigs. Anat.Anzeiger 167: 231-238 (1988)
• Fortyn K., Hruban V., Hradecky J., Horak V.: Changes of clinical biochemical values after bilateral nephrectomy and allotransplantation of the kidney in pigs. Int.Urol.Nephrol. 20: 299-305 (1988)
• Fortyn K., Hruban V., Hradecky J., Tichy P., Horak V.: A technique of the segmental devitalization of kidneys in experiments. Z.Exp.Chir.Transplant.kunstl.Organe 21: 275-280 (1988)
• Fortyn K., Hruban V., Hradecky J., Tichy J., Dvorak P., Horak V.: The devitalization of the stomach by devascularization technique. Acta Chir.Hung. 29: 163-172 (1988)
• Horak V., Hruban V., Dvorak P.: The tissue distribution of Ia- and IgM-positive cells in adult and newborn miniature pigs. Anat.Histol.Embryol. 18: 157-164 (1989)
• Horak V., Sevcikova K., Knizetova H.: Histochemical fiber types in the tight muscles of four chicken inbred lines. Anat. Anzeiger 169: 313-320 (1989)
• Fortyn K., Hruban V., Hradecky J., Tichy J., Dvorak P., Horak V.: Experimental devascularization (devitalization) of the rectum and sigmoideum. Z.Exp.Chir.Transplant. kunstl.Organe 22: 173-179 (1989)
• Horak V., Matolin S.: Inhibition reactivation myofibrillar ATPase technique for demonstration of three fibre types in a single cryostat muscle section. Stain Technol. 65: 85-89 (1990)
• Mackova E., Matolin S., Horak V., Havlickova L., Melichna J.: Anaerobic performance and muscle characteristics (m. vastus lateralis) in female athletes. Biol.Sport 7: 163-171 (1990)
• Melichna J., Novakova H., Matolin S., Ulbrichova M., Horak V., Havlickova L., Novak J., Mackova E., Mackova P., Zauner C.W.: Relationship between vertical jumping ability, muscle fibre characteristics and the physique of athletes. Biol.Sport 7: 5-14 (1990)
• Horak V., Draber P., Hanak J., Matolin S.: Fibre composition and tubulin localization in muscle of thoroughbred sprinters and stayers. In: Equine Exercise Physiol.3, eds.S.G.P. Persson, A. Lindholm and L.B. Jeffcott, ICEEP Publication, Davis, California, 1991, pp. 262-268
• Horak V., Flechon J.E., Moens A.: Immunohistochemical detection of protein expression in undifferentiated mouse embryonic stem cells. Int.J.Dev.Biol. 37: 7S (1993)
• Horak V., Flechon J.E., Moens A.: Spontaneous differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells. Cell Biol.Int. 18:434 (1994)
• Fortyn K., Hruban V., Horak V.: Treatment of malignant melanoma. Br.J.Surg. 81: 146-147 (1994)
• Fortyn K., Hruban V., Horak V., Hradecky J., Tichy J.: Melanoblastoma disease in laboratory minipigs: a model for study of human malignant melanoblastomas. Vet.Med.-Czech 39: 597-604 (1994) (in Czech)
• Matolin S., Vaverka F., Lunak J., Novak J., Horak V., Krejci P.: Histochemical and functional parameters in Nordic combination athletes. Physiol.Res. 43: 243-251 (1994)
• Horak V.: Fibre type differentiation during postnatal development of miniature pig skeletal muscle. Reprod.Nutr.Dev. 35:725-736 (1995)
• Fortyn K., Hruban V., Horak V., Tichy J.: Experimental treatment of malignant melanoma by ischemization (devitalization). Klin.onkol. 1: 11-15 (1995) (in Czech)
• Rohwedel J., Horak V., Hebrok M., Fuchtbauer E.-M., Wobus A.M.: M-twist expression inhibits mouse embryonic stem cell-derived myogenic differentiation in vitro. Exp.Cell Res. 220: 92-100 (1995)
• Antalikova L., Horak V., Matolin S.: Ultrastructural demonstration of glucose-6-phosphatase activity and glycogen in skeletal muscles of newborn piglets with the splayleg syndrome. Reprod. Nutr.Dev. 36: 205-212 (1996)
• Dvorak P., Flechon J.E., Thompson E., Horak V., Adenot P., Renard J.P.: Embryoglycans regulate FGF-2-mediated mesoderm induction in the rabbit embryo. J.Cell Sci. 110: 1-10 (1997)
• Horak V., Hruban V., Fortyn K., Klaudy J.: Malignant melanoma in miniature pigs, Pigment Cell Res. 11: 254 (1998)
• Horak V., Flechon J.E.: Immunocytochemical characterization of rabbit and mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Reprod.Nutr.Dev. 38: 683-695 (1998)
• Fortyn K., Hruban V., Horak V., Tichy J.: Exceptional occurrence and extent of malignant melanoma in pig. Vet.Med.-Czech 43: 87-91 (1998)
• Hruban V., Hamanova K., Fortyn K., Horak V.: Hereditary malignant melanomas in miniature pigs, Veterinarstvi (in Czech) 48:192-196 (1998)
• Horak V., Fortyn K., Hruban V., Klaudy J.: Hereditary melanoblastoma in miniature pigs and its successful therapy by devitalization technique. Mol.Cell.Biol. 45: 1119-1129 (1999)
• Horak V., Cinatl J.: Localisation of melanoma-specific proteins, bFGF and its receptor in porcine malignant melanoma cells in vitro. Pigment Cell Res. 13: 397-398 (2000)
• Horak V., Rehfeldt C., Stratil A., Bobak P.: Influence of exogenous transferrin on chicken skeletal muscles. Czech J.Anim.Sci. 45: 97-103 (2000)
• Borovansky J., Elleder M., Horak V., Smit P.M.: Basic biochemical characterization of a new melanoma model – minipig MeLiM strain. Chem. Listy 94:650-651 (2000)
• Geffrotin C., Horak V., Crechet F., Tricaud Y., Lethias C., Vincent-Naulleau S., Vielh P.: Opposite regulation of tenascin-C and tenascin-X in MeLiM swine heritable cutaneous malignant melanoma. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1524: 196-202 (2000)
• Hruban V., Horak V., Fortyn K., Reisnerova H.: Expression of vitronektin receptors in melanoma of pigs. In: Cells II, J.Berger (ed.), Kopp Publ., Ceske Budejovice, 2000, pp.83-84
• Horak V.: Devitalizace, objektivni poznatky. Forum Medicinae 1/2001: 68-72
• Horak V., Fortyn K., Borovansky J., Pohlreich P., Hruban V., Klaudy J.: Devitalization is effective procedure for successful therapy of metastatic melanoma in the MeLiM miniature pigs. Melanoma Res. 11 (suppl. 1): S 193-194 (2001)
• Fortyn K., Hruban V., Horak V., Tichy J.: Artificial perforation of the stomach in pigs and rats and their covering by the abdominal wall. Vet. Med.-Czech 46: 75-77 (2001)
• Pohlreich P., Stribrna J., Kleibl Z., Horak V., Klaudy J.: Detection of neoplastic cells in blood of miniature pigs with hereditary melanoma. Vet. Med.-Czech 46: 199-204 (2001)
• Soukupova P., Horak V., Hradecky J., Klaudy J.: Early detected increase of heat shock protein expression in swine melanoma treated by devitalization. In: Cells IV, J.Berger (ed.), Kopp Publ., Ceske Budejovice, 2002, pp.98
• Le Chalony C., Renard C., Vincent-Naulleau S., Crechet F., Leplat J.J., Tricaud Y., Horak V., Gruand J., Le Roy P., Frelat G., Geffrotin C.: CDKN2A region polymorphism and genetic susceptibility to melanoma in the MeLiM swine model of familial melanoma. Int. J. Cancer 103: 631-635 (2003)
• Boisgard, R., Vincent-Naulleau, S., Leplat, J.-J., Bouet, S., Le Chalony, C., Tricaud, Y., Horak, V., Geffrotin, C., Frelat, G., Tavitian, B. (2003): A new animal model for the imaging of melanoma: correlation of FDG PET with clinical outcome, macroscopic aspect and histological classification in Melanoblastoma-bearing Libechov Minipigs. Eur. J. Nucl. Med. Mol. Imaging 30: 826-834.
• Borovansky, J., Horak, V., Elleder, M., Fortyn, K., Smit, N.P.M., Kolb, A.M. (2003): Biochemical characterization of a new melanoma model – the minipig MeLiM strain. Melanoma Res. 13: 1-6.
• Geffrotin, C., Crechet, F., Le Roy, P., Chalony, C., Leplat, J. J., Iannuccelli, N., Barbosa, A., Renard, C., Gruand, J., Milan, D., Horak, V., Tricaud, Y., Bouet, S., Franck, M., Frelat, G., Vincent-Naulleau, S. (2004): Identification of five chromosomal regions involved in predisposition to melanoma by genome-wide scan in the MeLiM swine model. Int. J. Cancer, 110: 39-50
• Hruban, V., Horak, V., Fortyn, K., Hradecky, J., Klaudy, J., Smith, D.M., Reisnerova, H., Majzlik, I. (2004): Inheritance of malignant melanoma in the MeliM strain of miniature pigs.Vet. Med - Czech. 49: 453-459
• Vincent-Naulleau, S., LeChalony, C., Leplat, J., Bouet, S., Bailly, C., Spatz, A., Vielh, P., Avril, M.F., Tricaud, Y., Gruand, J., Horak, V., Frelat, G., Geffrotin, C. (2004): Clinical and histopathological characterization of cutaneous melanomas in the melanoblastoma-Bearing Libechov Minipig Model. Pigment Cell Res. 17: 24-35.
• Moravkova A., Malek O., Pokorna E., Strnadel J., Hradecky J., Horak V.: Immune characterization of the Lewis rats inoculated with K2 sarcoma cells and newly derived R5-28 malignant cells. Folia Biol. (Praha) 51: 159-165 (2005)
• Svoboda M., Eichlerová K., Horák V., Hradecký J.: Development of haematological incidences in Melanoma-bearing Libechov minipigs. Acta Vet. (Brno) 74: 603-612 (2005)
• Du Z.Q., Vincent-Naulleau S., Gilbert H., Vignoles F., Crechet F., Shimogiri T., Yasue H., Leplat J-J., Bouet S., Gruand J., Horak V., Milan D., Le Roy P., Geffrotin C.: Detection of novel quantitative trait loci for cutaneous melanoma by genome-wide scan in the MeLiM swine model. Int. J. Cancer 120: 303-320 (2007)
• Strnádel j., Kverka M., Horák V., Vannucci L., Usvald D., Hlučilová J., Plánská D., Váňa P., Reisnerová H., Jílek F.: Multiplex analysis of cytokines involved in tumour growth and spontaneous regression in a rat sarcoma model. Folia Biol. (Praha) 53: 216-219 (2007)
• Rovenská M., Hlouchová K., Šácha P., Mlčochová P., Horák V., Zámečník J., Bařinka C., Konvalinka J.: Tissue expression and enzymologic characterization of human prostate specific membrane antigen and its rat and pig orthologs. Prostate 68: 171-182 (2008)
• Rambow F., Malek O., Geffrotin C., Leplat J.-J., Bouet S., Piton G., Hugot K., Bevilacqua C., Horák V., Vincent-Naulleau S.: Identification of differentially expressed genes in spontaneously regressing melanoma using the MeLiM swine model. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 21: (doi: 10.1111/j.1755-148X.2008.00442.x) (2008)
• Strnadel, J., Kverka, M., Reisnerova H., Hlucilova J., Usvald D., Planska D., Vana P., Jilek F., Vannucci L., Horak V.: Proteinove cipy pri studiu expresie cytokinov na nadorovom modele: optimalizacia pripravy vzoriek. Chem. Listy 102, 269-273 (2008)
• Holubova M, Strnádel J, Usvald D, Klaudy J, Planska D, Vannucci L, Vana P, Reisnerova H, Jilek F, Horak V: Terapeuticka a patologicka fuze nadorovych bunek s imunitnimi bunkami – Nádorové vakciny versus nadorové hybridy. Bioprospect 3: 39-41 (2008)

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