Cancer Biology and Molecular Therapeutics
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| ONCG3005 | Cancer and Stem Cells | 3 | 20 | Spring UK |
- Code
- ONCG3005
- School
- Cancer and Stem Cells
- Level
- 3
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Spring UK
Summary
This module considers:
The molecular pathways involved in receptor tyrosine kinase signalling, apoptosis, autophagy, the cell cycle and its controls, chromatin modification, and DNA repair, building on knowledge gained in year 2. How dysregulation of these pathways contributes to the pathogenesis of cancer and the bioinformatic and experimental methodologies that can be used to identify new targets. Cancer stem cells and the strategies used to target them. How new therapeutic approaches are evaluated with reference to the treatment of lymphoma and leukaemia and solid tumours.
Target Students
Students studying Cancer Sciences BSc U6UCANCS (B131) and Cancer Sciences MSci U7UCANCSY (B130) and other students with the required pre-requisites including students studying Natural Sciences.
Co-requisites
Modules you must take in the same academic year, or have taken in a previous year, to enrol in this module:
Classes
- One 6-hour workshop
- Two 1-hour lectures each week for 7 weeks
• 12 lectures (semester 2) • Interactive session (bioinformatics computer-based workshop - 6 hours) • Open office session (1 hour) • Revision workshop (1 hour)
Assessment
- 100% Exam (3-hour): Written examination with essay questions and short answer questions; 3 hours
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
To explore cancer biology and molecular therapeutics examining a variety of established and emerging therapeutic approaches based on our detailed and growing understanding of receptor tyrosine kinases and their associated signalling pathways, apoptosis and autophagy and related pathways, the cell cycle and its control mechanisms, chromatin modification pathways, and DNA repair pathways. To consider how dysregulation of these pathways contributes to cancer and cancer therapies including synthetic lethality. To build on knowledge of the bioinformatic and experimental methodologies that can be used to identify new targets gained in years 1 and 2. To consider new therapeutic approaches to the treatment of lymphoma and leukaemia and solid tumours. To develop the concept of the cancer stem cell and to discuss strategies that could be used to target these cells.Learning Outcomes
1. Intellectual skills
Students should be able to demonstrate a good understanding of:
● Synthetic lethality and other targeting strategies including targeting growth factor receptor signalling in cancer
● Targeting apoptosis and autophagy pathways in cancer
● Targeting cancer stem cells, the cell cycle machinery, DNA repair pathways, and the chromatin modification machinery in cancer
● The bioinformatic and experimental methodologies used for the identification of new targets, their validation, and the development of new drugs
2. Professional / practical skills
Students should be able to design and perform a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay and analyse the resulting data.
3. Transferable / key skills
Students should be able:
● Communicate complex written information to a non-specialist audience
● Communicate complex written information in the form of an essay
● Demonstrate self-management and teamworking in the completion of coursework
● Demonstrate problem solving skills and critical thinking as applied to relevant data
● Show high levels of information technology literacy