Biochemistry of Cancer
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| LIFE4114 | Life Sciences | 4 | 20 | Autumn UK |
- Code
- LIFE4114
- School
- Life Sciences
- Level
- 4
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Autumn UK
Summary
This module covers some of the more modern ideas surrounding tumourigenesis and tumour progression. The first part of the course will cover our current understanding of the molecular basis of tumour progression. Following lectures will focus both on research into the fundamentals of cancer biology and the biochemical basis for the treatment of patients with cancer. The following features will be included:
1. The role of oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes in normal and tumour cells.
2. Multistep tumourigenesis and the hallmarks of cancer.
3. Cancer cell invasion and metastasis.
4. Genome instability.
5. Cancer stem cells.
6. The tumour microenvironment.
7. Cancer research.
8. Cancer therapy.
Target Students
Available to all students registered for MSc Molecular Genetics and Diagnostics U7PMOLGD (C443), U6UBCHMY, U7UBIOCH, U6UBCHMM, U7UBIOMM, U6UBCHBC, U7UBCHBC (C700, C703, C741, C742, C720, C721). Available to JYA/Erasmus students. There is a cap on this module, priority will be given to 4th year students. Students on a 4-year degree must do this module in their 4th year. This module is not available to Biology U6UBOLGY/U7UBOLGY (C100/C101)or Cancer Sciences U6UCANCS/U7UCANCSY (B131/B130) students.
Classes
This module may be delivered through lectures, seminars, workshops and labs etc
Assessment
- 34% Presentation 1: 15-minute student presentation and 5 minutes Q&A. December last week of term.
- 33% In Class Exam 1 (Moodle Remote): Remote open-book exam - students answer 1 from 1 question (word limit 1,000). (additional time for upload/IT issues). November.
- 33% Exam 1 (3-hour): Remote open-book exam - students answer 1 from 2 questions (word limit 1,000). (additional time for upload/IT issues). January exam period.
Assessed by end of autumn semester
Educational Aims
The aim of this course is to expand the student’s knowledge of how cancer cells form, how they metastasise and explain and discuss how cancer research is undertaken and current approaches to cancer treatments.Learning Outcomes
After this module students will know: (i) the nature and function of oncogenes and tumour supressor genes in normal and cancer cells
(ii) multistep tumourigenesis and the hallmarks of cancer
(iii) the role of stem cells in cancer formation
(iv) the role of genome instability in tumour progression
(v) the importance of the tumour microenvironment
(vi) how cancer is modelled in in vivo systems, to better understand disease mechanisms
(vii) present day cancer chemotherapy including drug actions and problems
(viii) the search for new cancer therapies using current knowledge of cancer cell biology
Transferable skills: Use of the library; use of search engines to review relevant current literature; presentation and communication skills.