| Unit name | Cancer Mechanisms and Therapeutics |
|---|---|
| Unit code | PANM33004 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Paraskeva |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
PANM22041 Infection and Immunity PANM22042 Cellular & Molecular Pathology MOLG22100 Recombinant DNA Technology MOLG22200 Gene Expression and Rearrangement. FMVS20001 Biomedical Research, Employability and Enterprise Skills |
| Co-requisites |
3 level 6/H lecture units and Research Skills unit. |
| School/department | School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine |
| Faculty | Faculty of Life Sciences |
This unit covers cellular and molecular changes that result in common cancers such as breast and colon including genetics of colorectal (FAP and HNPCC) and breast cancer (BRCA1 and BRCA2); cell adhesion molecules in differentiation, invasion and metastasis; importance of tumour microenvironment in carcinogenesis. Regulation of the cell cycle by the tumour suppressor genes, TGFbeta, Rb, p53, and why loss of function represents the most common event in human cancer. Normal apoptosis pathways, deregulation of apoptotic signalling in carcinogenesis and its role in the development of drug resistance. About 20% of cancers are linked to viruses. Human viruses covered include EBV, HPV, Hepatitis B and C, Kaposi Sarcoma Herpes Virus. This unit will also include a brief review of the epidemiology of cancer and current approaches for both cancer prevention (NSAIDs, cancer vaccines) and the exploitation of targets, described above, for novel chemopreventive and therapeutic approaches. Data handling/essay writing tutorial. Lectures will be in weeks 9-12.
Aims:
the aims are to increase our understanding of how cancer develop and in particular which key genes and growth signalling pathways become defective and lead to the development of common adult sporadic and hereditary cancers. A further aim is to show how knowledge of these defective signalling pathways can lead to novel measures to prevent cancer and new treatments for the early detection and cure of cancer.
Knowledge and understanding of which key signalling pathways become deregulated during multistage carcinogenesis and give rise to major common adult cancers such as breast and bowel cancer. Knowledge and understanding of how the identification of deregulated signalling pathways (whether inherited, acquired, or caused by viruses) can lead to the development of new chemopreventive and therapeutic approaches for cancer.
Knowledge of he scientific literature pertaining to cancer mechanisms and therapeutics and an ability to evaluate this literature critically.
Lectures, Data Handling Session
Independent study: Students are expected to study the recommended literature.
Summative 3 hour written exam, to include 3 essays chose from 6.
Reviews and primary articles from the current scientific literature.
