Cancer epidemiology and pathogenesis
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course aims to transfer to the students the basic knowledge of tumor pathogenesis. Emphasis will be placed on epidemiology, medical genetics and epigenetics notions as well as mechanisms of oncogenesis that may be translationally applicable to tumor therapy.
Expected learning outcomes
Analysis of frequency and distribution of tumors to find the cause of cancer, identify and develop novel treatments.
Alteration of cancer cell and cancer stem cell biology.
Molecular mechanisms of cancer pathogenesis of solid tumors and hematological malignancies, with particular focus on the most innovative findings concerning the hallmarks of cancer.
Alteration of cancer cell and cancer stem cell biology.
Molecular mechanisms of cancer pathogenesis of solid tumors and hematological malignancies, with particular focus on the most innovative findings concerning the hallmarks of cancer.
Lesson period: Third trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Third trimester
Course syllabus
The course will focus on two main topics:
Epidemiology of cancer
The "vocabulary" of clinical oncology for medical biotechnologist. Analysis of frequency, distribution and trend of major neoplasms on a European perspective. Major causes of cancer, to identify and develop strategies for prevention and control. Epidemiology and problems of rare cancers. Precision and personalized oncology.
Pathogenesis of cancer
The hallmarks of cancer and cancer stem cells: self-renewal, replicative immortality, cancer initiating activity and metastasis, resisting cell death. Models of cancer organization and therapeutic implications. Pathways involved in stemness maintenance; methods and limitations in studying cancer stem cells. Tumor microenvironment and the cancer stem cell niche. Cancer cell plasticity and genetic instability. Effect of tumor microenvironment on cell plasticity. Senescence: promoting and inhibiting effects in cancer progression, outcome on cancer cell and tumor microenvironment; therapeutic implications. Tumor microenvironment: cytokine pro-tumor effect and cytokine directed anti-cancer therapy. Genome instability: definition and cause; the catalogue of mutations as a tool to monitor the neoplastic progression and to assess the patient's therapeutic response. Epigenetic reprogramming: modifications of DNA methylation and histone modifications in cancer, therapeutic use of methylation inhibitors and histone acetylase inhibitors. Epigenetic reprogramming in cancer through non-coding RNA.
Epidemiology of cancer
The "vocabulary" of clinical oncology for medical biotechnologist. Analysis of frequency, distribution and trend of major neoplasms on a European perspective. Major causes of cancer, to identify and develop strategies for prevention and control. Epidemiology and problems of rare cancers. Precision and personalized oncology.
Pathogenesis of cancer
The hallmarks of cancer and cancer stem cells: self-renewal, replicative immortality, cancer initiating activity and metastasis, resisting cell death. Models of cancer organization and therapeutic implications. Pathways involved in stemness maintenance; methods and limitations in studying cancer stem cells. Tumor microenvironment and the cancer stem cell niche. Cancer cell plasticity and genetic instability. Effect of tumor microenvironment on cell plasticity. Senescence: promoting and inhibiting effects in cancer progression, outcome on cancer cell and tumor microenvironment; therapeutic implications. Tumor microenvironment: cytokine pro-tumor effect and cytokine directed anti-cancer therapy. Genome instability: definition and cause; the catalogue of mutations as a tool to monitor the neoplastic progression and to assess the patient's therapeutic response. Epigenetic reprogramming: modifications of DNA methylation and histone modifications in cancer, therapeutic use of methylation inhibitors and histone acetylase inhibitors. Epigenetic reprogramming in cancer through non-coding RNA.
Prerequisites for admission
The student must have acquired the fundamental concepts of the biological and molecular pathogenetic mechanisms of cancer (alteration of proliferation, apoptosis and genetic instability), of the statistical analysis and the basic laboratory techniques for the study of cellular functions, phenotype and genome.
Teaching methods
Method of teaching through frontal lessons supported by visual presentations and discussion of the concepts acquired.
The teaching material relating to the lessons presented in the classroom will be available on the Ariel platform in the form of a pdf file. Course attendance is mandatory.
The teaching material relating to the lessons presented in the classroom will be available on the Ariel platform in the form of a pdf file. Course attendance is mandatory.
Teaching Resources
Pdf files of presentations. Review article and original papers on different topics.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam will be a written questionnaire of six open-ended questions on the topics listed in the program for the duration of one hour and a half.
The evaluation parameters will include the ability to organize the answers, the ability to critically reason on the study carried out and to integrate the notions acquired; the quality of the exposition, the competence in the use of the specialized vocabulary.
The mark will be expressed in thirtieths and will be the mean of the marks obtained in the six questions.
To pass the exam, all the answers must be sufficient.
The result of the written exam will be communicated on the Ariel portal.
The evaluation parameters will include the ability to organize the answers, the ability to critically reason on the study carried out and to integrate the notions acquired; the quality of the exposition, the competence in the use of the specialized vocabulary.
The mark will be expressed in thirtieths and will be the mean of the marks obtained in the six questions.
To pass the exam, all the answers must be sufficient.
The result of the written exam will be communicated on the Ariel portal.
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Professor(s)
Reception:
Please request an appointment via e-mail
Reception:
upon appointment via email
Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan