Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Cancer Biology
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, Spanish
Teaching staff
Students’ queries will be addressed before or after class. Alternatively, students’ questions may be addressed by videoconference.
Anna Bigas: abigas@imim.es
Lluis Espinosa Blay: lespinosa@imim.es
Alberto Villanueva: avillanueva@iconcologia.net / avillanueva@idibell.cat
Mariana Ribeiro: mpontecardosoribeiro@uic.es
Introduction
After the acquisition of basic concepts in Cell and Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, the subject of Cancer Biology is focused on the mechanisms underlying the development and progression of cancer, and how these can be explored from a therapeutic point of view. The subject is developed using a multidisciplinary approach, so that the student will be able to understand how these basic concepts translate into clinical practice, as well as the experimental models used to study cancer.
Pre-course requirements
Basic knowledge of cellular and molecular biology, biochemistry and genetics.
Objectives
To understand cancer cell deregulation at cellular and molecular levels.
To know the role of mutations and environmental factors in cancer development.
Know current pharmacological approaches and their mechanisms of action.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
Recognizing the aspects that govern the pathological state and their clinical and diagnostic implications.
Identifying the effects, mechanisms and manifestations of disease on the structure and function of the human body at molecular, cellular and histological level.
Recognizing basic concepts of different areas related to biomedical sciences.
Developing the capacity to gather and interpret relevant data (usually within the field of study) to formulate opinions that include a reflection on relevant social, scientific or ethical topics.
Developing problem-solving skills.
Developing analysis and synthesis capacity.
Interpreting experimental results and identifying consistent and inconsistent elements.
Ability to work in groups.
Learning outcomes of the subject
At the end of the course the student:
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Identifies the characteristics of tissues at cellular and molecular levels in situations of damage, adaptation and cell death.
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Knows the basis of disease and the most prevalent human pathologies.
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Knows the genetic basis of the tumor process and how it relates to the individual’s metabolism and immunological system.
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Knows the basic concepts of the most prevalent tumors.
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Understands how some strategies used in the treatment of cancer work at cellular / molecular level.
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Understands tumor heterogeneity and the processes of invasion and metastasis.
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Knows the main experimental models used to study cancer.
Syllabus
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Molecular basis of cancer: an overview
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Basic description of prevalent tumors: breast, colon, pancreas, lung, leukaemia
a) Hormone-related cancer (breast, prostate)
b) Gastrointestinal cancer (colorectal, pancreas, stomach)
c) Lung cancer
d) Leukaemia (chronic, acute, lymphoblastic, myeloblastic)
3. Oncogenes and tumor suppressors
a) General concepts
b) Main oncogenes: Ras, myc, PI3K,
c) Main tumor suppressors: p53, p16, APC, Rb and others.
4. Chromatin proteins and cancer
a) Polycomb complex and regulation of gene expression
b) Genetic mutations in chromatin proteins
5. DNA damage repair (DDR) and cancer
a) Non-Homologous End Joining, Homologous recombination, Base Excision repair
b) Genomic alterations in genes in DDR pathway: p53, BRCA, ATM. Current therapeutic approaches for targeting DDR in cancer
c) Checkpoint inhibitors, PARP inhibitors
6. Quiescence, Senescence and Apoptosis in Cancer
7. Metabolism and cancer
a) Oxidative phosphorylation, glycolysis and Warburg effect. The mitochondria.
b) mTOR, HIF1, Hippo
c) Autophagy, metabolism and chromatin modifications
d) Targeting metabolism in cancer treatment
8. Tumor heterogeneity
a) Tumor composition: stromal fibroblast, endothelium and immune cells
b) Immunologic components of the tumors
c) Cancer-initiating cells and cancer stem cells
d) Targeting specific tumor components
9. Tumor immunology, inflammation and immunotherapy
a) Immune system: pros and cons
b) Immune checkpoints and inhibitors
c) New antigens from tumor cells.
d) New immunotherapeutic tools: bispecific antibodies, CAR-T cells
10. Invasion and metastasis
a) The metastatic process
b) Epithelial to Mesenchymal transition (EMT) process
c) Molecular regulators of invasion and metastasis
Teaching and learning activities
In person
Lectures: the teacher explains theoretical concepts.
Case method: students work in small groups to solve problems (either real or imaginary situations).
Virtual education (VE): Online material that the student can access from any computer, at any time and that will contribute to self-learning concepts related to the subject
Practical sessions: Students become familiar with the most common experimental tools used in a biomedicine laboratory.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
1st sitting
Case method: 10%
Practical sessions: 10%
Midterm: 10% (20 multiple-choice questions). Includes half of the syllabus.
Final exam: 70% (50 multiple-choice questions). Includes the entire syllabus (also case method and practical sessions).
The students who provide interesting ideas or ask pertinent questions that improve the quality of the class, either in a lecture or a case method session, may obtain 10% for excellence. Only students who actively participate in the subject will get this bonus.
2nd sitting: Marks from practical sessions and case methods will be kept.
3rd or later sittings: Marks from practical sessions and case methods will be kept, although, whenever they wish, students will be able to repeat class attendance and obtain a new grade.
General aspects to be considered regarding evaluation:
1) The student must obtain a mark of at least 5 in the final exam before calculating the average with the other marks.
2) Case method and practical session attendance is mandatory. If a student is unable to attend, the corresponding case method will be graded as 0.
3) The exam will contain multiple-choice questions with 4 options, where each right answer gets +1 and each wrong answer gets a 0.25 penalty.
4) Lecture attendance is not compulsory, but students who wish to attend must follow the rules established by the teacher. If a student arrives late, he/she should enter the classroom quietly without disturbing the class.
Bibliography and resources
The Biology of Cancer, Robert Weinberg, New York: Garland Science, 2nd edition, 2014.
Research articles or reviews may also be assigned as required or additional readings. These will be provided electronically to students through moodle.
Evaluation period
- E1 21/01/2021 A08 11:00h