Oncology

BIO-392 / 4 credits

Teacher(s): Constam Daniel, De Palma Michele

Language: English

Summary

This course provides a comprehensive overview of the biology of cancer, including common mechanisms that cancer cells use to grow and disseminate in humans and in animal models.

Content

 

  • The hallmarks of cancer, and the underlying molecular and cell biology of cancer cells.
  • Normal organs and tumours: notions of histopathology.
  • Sustained proliferative signals and evasion of growth suppression.
  • Resistance to apoptosis and replicative immortality
  • The causes and consequences of cancer: mutations and multi-step tumour progression.
  • DNA repair and genetic instability.
  • The tumour microenvironment: heterotypic interactions among cancer cells and the tumour-associated stroma.
  • Tumour angiogenesis: biology and therapeutic targeting.
  • Inflammation and cancer.
  • The role of the immune system in cancer evolution.
  • The biology of metastasis and metastasis-associated organ microenvironments.
  • Cancer biomarkers and classifiers.
  • Druggable and non-druggable mutations, darwinian selection, and mechanisms of resistance.
  • Cancer therapies: an overview.
  • Targeted therapies: mechanisms and applications.
  • Immunotherapies.

Keywords

cancer; hallmark of cancer; oncogene; tumor suppressor; tumor microenvironment; tumor immunology; tumor angiogenesis; invasion; metastasis; targeted therapy; resistance mechanism

Learning Prerequisites

Required courses

Biology

Important concepts to start the course

Fundamental cell and molecular biology, such as gene transcription, cell cycle, cell signaling, and genetic inheritance. Basic notions in immunology.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

  • Conduct a study to identify mechanism(s) of tumorigenesis
  • Assess / Evaluate the molecular and cellular mechanisms of tumor progression and relapse
  • Explain and interpret experimental data in basic cancer biology
  • Distinguish contributions of driver mutations and epigenetic alterations to cancer hallmarks
  • Design mechanism-targeted cancer treatments

Transversal skills

  • Summarize an article or a technical report.
  • Give feedback (critique) in an appropriate fashion.
  • Access and evaluate appropriate sources of information.
  • Take feedback (critique) and respond in an appropriate manner.

Teaching methods

Lectures, during which the feedback of the students is requested.

Exercises (can vary in style, but are important to reach the learning objectives)

Expected student activities

Attending lectures and taking notes.

Regular active participation in the weekly exercises.

Homework: Self-evaluation by studying excercise model answers; reading accompanying materials for self-study.

Assessment methods

Written exam (no open book)

Resources

Bibliography

Textbook: The Biology of Cancer, Third Edition (2023), by R. A. Weinberg (Ed. W.W. Norton & Co., ISBN: 978-0-393-88764-8)

Hallmarks of Cancer: The next generation. Review article by D. Hanahan and R. A. Weineberg in Cell 144:646-674 (2011)

Ressources en bibliothèque

Notes/Handbook

Lecture slides in PDF format.

Moodle Link

In the programs

  • Semester: Spring
  • Exam form: Written (summer session)
  • Subject examined: Oncology
  • Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional

Reference week

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