Course overview
This course aims to engender the students with a comprehensive and detailed working knowledge of the nature of cancer and the biology behind the induction and propagation of the disease, the different techniques used for the diagnosis of cancer, and the current and experimental therapies used for the treatment of the disease. The biology and genetics of cells and organisms. The nature of cancer. Tumour viruses. Cellular oncogenes. Growth factors and their receptors. Cytoplasmic signalling circuitry. Tumour suppressor genes. Rb and control of the cell cycle. p53 and apoptosis. Cell immortalisation and tumourigenesis. Multistep tumourigenesis. Genomic integrity and the development of cancer. Heterotypic interactions and the biology of angiogenesis. Invasion and metastasis. Small animal models of cancer. Histological, molecular and genetic diagnostics. Surgery. Medical and radiation oncology. Pharmacogenomics in medical oncology. Experimental therapeutics (monoclonal antibodies, STI's, angiogenesis, immunotherapy, gene therapy, stem cells).
Course learning outcomes
- Demonstrate an understanding of the nature of cancer, the role of various agents in the induction and propagation of the disease, and the molecular basis of the mode of action of these agents.
- Apply this knowledge to the medical sciences, in particular to how a fundamental understanding of the nature, induction and propagation of cancer can be used in the design of future diagnostics and therapeutics.
- Identify and critically analyse the relevant current literature in cancer biology.