Position: Leading researcher at the Surgical Department No. 1 (tumors of the skin, bones, soft tissues) of the N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology

Degree: DSc

Title: Professor

Pr. Kharatishvili is a creative, unconventional person. Since 2014, he is an Honorary Academician of the Academy of Arts of the Russian Federation.

Education

In 1981, Pr. Kharatishvili graduated from the Krasnodar Medical Institute with specialization in medical care. Between 1983 and 1988, he was a clinical resident and PhD student at the N.N. Blokhin Russian Oncological Research Center. In 1988, he has successfully defended his PhD thesis “Primary reticulosarcoma of the bone (clinical aspects, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis).” In 1993, he received the highest qualification category of surgeon-oncologist. In 2000, Pr. Kharatishvili has defended his DSc dissertation “Chondrosarcoma of the bone (clinical aspects, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis)” at the N.N. Blokhin Russian Oncological Research Center.

Every 5 years Pr. Kharatishvili completes certification courses for professional improvement at the Russian State Medical University and Russian Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education. He has trained at the Rotterdam Oncological Center (Netherlands) in 2007, 2009, 2010.

Professional experience

Between 1988 and 1993, Pr. Kharatishvili worked as a surgeon at the Sukhumi Oncological Dispensary. Between 1993 and 2000, he worked as a doctor at the Surgical Department of General Oncology of the N.N. Blokhin Russian Oncological Research Center. In 2000, he became a senior researcher at the same department. Since 2001, Pr. Kharatishvili is the leading researcher of the Surgical Department No. 1 of General Oncology of the Scientific Research Institute of Oncology at the N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology.

Scientific interests

Pr. Kharatishvili’s scientific interests include bone, soft tissue sarcomas, skin tumors; high-tech personalized treatment of patients with primary and recurrent tumors of the soft tissue; organ-preserving operations with reconstructive and plastic components for treatment of soft tissue tumors and skin disorders; dermal oncology (skin melanoma, basal-cell, squamous-cell skin cancer), study of sentinel lymph nodes in skin melanoma, isolated limb perfusion in locally advanced (inoperable) sarcomas of the soft tissues and skin melanoma, differential diagnosis of malignant and benign skin neoplasms.

Pr. Kharatishvili has proposed, developed, and implemented in practice at the N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology a method of isolated reginal limb perfusion with chemotherapeutic drugs under radiological control for treatment of locally advanced soft tissue sarcomas and skin melanoma which allowed to significantly decrease the number of mutilating surgeries for this complex patient category.

Pr. Kharatishvili has shown the benefit of combination preoperative treatment for locally advanced skin cancer. He has established the role and significance of determination of the sentinel lymph nodes in skin melanoma. He has proposed treatment tactics for highly malignant chondrosarcoma of the skeletal bones.

Due to training outside of Russia, Pr. Kharatishvili has mastered a new method of treatment of locally advanced tumors of the soft tissues – isolated chemotherapeutic limb perfusion. The method was implemented in clinical practice in Russia and currently is being successfully applied.

Publications

Pr. Kharatishvili has authored more than 85 scientific publications including one monograph, co-authored four lecture books and an encyclopedia published by Russian publishers between 1998 and 2012. He has participated in multiple Russian and international congresses, conferences on diagnosis and treatment of malignant tumors. Pr. Kharatishvili has reviewed 14 PhD and 4 DSc dissertations. He served as an opponent for 6 PhD dissertations. Under his supervision, 7 PhD dissertations were successfully defended. One PhD thesis is being currently prepared.

Membership in professional medical organizations

Pr. Kharatishvili is the member of the scientific committee of the Eurasian Melanoma and Skin Tumors Forums. He is a member of the East European Sarcoma Group, editorial board of the Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcomas, Tumors of the Skin journal. Member of the European Society of Surgical Oncology (ESSO).

Awards

In 2006, Pr. Kharatishvili received the Diploma of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences in the “Clinical Medicine–2006” nomination. In 2012, he received the title of Professor of Oncology. In 2017, Pr. Kharatishvili received the title of Honored Doctor of the Russian Federation.