Cell growth, differentiation and cancer (CGDC), 5 ECTS, total teaching hours 36 + 4 for literature theme presentations by MSc students
Aims: Understanding of important aspects of carcinogenesis and cancer development (genetics/epigenetics, immunity and cancer, neoplasticangiogenesis) with emphasis on subjects that are within the research interests of members of the program’s teaching team.
Sections:
[1] Molecular basis and aberrations in cancer. 1A. Molecular basis. 1Β. Molecular aberrations.
[2] The tumor microenvironment. 2Α. Tumor metabolism and angiogenesis. 2Β. Immunity and cancer.
[3] Cancer markers, treatment, experimental models and techniques. 3Α. Cancer markers and treatment. 3Β. Analysis techniques and cancer experimental models.
Themes taught and (approximate) duration:
a) Molecular basis and aberrations in cancer
Molecular basis: Genetic and epigenetic alterations in cancer (2h), the cancer stem cell model (2h), Basic principles of carcinogenesis - hallmarks of cancer (2h), DNA damage and repair mechanisms (2h).
Molecular aberrations: Principles of pathology approach to neoplasms (2h), Molecular aberrations of melanomas (2h), Molecular aberrations of lymphomas (2h), Acute leukemias (diagnosis, types, prognosis, treatment) and cell therapy (2h).
b) The tumor microenvironment
Angiogenesis, endocytosis, extracellular vesicles: General principles of metabolism in cancer (2h), The role of endocytosis in angiogenesis and in cancer (2h), Extracellular vesicles and tumor microenvironment (2h).
Immunity and cancer: Mechanisms of immune tolerance and their importance in homeostasis and cancer, Immunity and cancer I (2h), Immunity and cancer II (2h).
c) Cancer markers, treatment, experimental models and techniques
Cancer markers and treatment: Genetic and epigenetic markers (2h), Liquid biopsy markers: Techniques for identification and clinical applications (2h), Anticancer therapies (2h), Drug discovery in cancer (2h).
Analysis techniques and cancer experimental models: Flow cytometry in hematologic malignancies (2h), Next Generation Sequencing applications in cancer (2h), Transgenic mice as cancer models (2h).