76168 - Molecular Oncology and Immunopathology

Learning outcomes

Describe the transformed phenotype and its molecular and cellular basis, the pathogenesis of cancer, including the interactions with the microenvironment and the immune system, and molecular cancer progression up to the metastatic diffusion. Identify the phases of development and the tumor types relevant to human oncology and define molecular targets for innovative targeted therapies. Discuss the pathogenetic mechanisms of the main immune pathologies (immunodeficiencies, allergy, autoimmunity), as well as the role of the immune system in the natural and vaccine-elicited immunity to infectious agents, cell and organ transplants, and cancer.

Course contents

MOLECULAR IMMUNOPATHOLOGY

Infectious immunity

Vaccines

Transplantation immunity

Hypersensitivity: Allergy and Autoimmunity

Immunodeficiencies

 

MOLECULAR ONCOLOGY

Introduction, definitions and classification
Basic Oncology and Medical Oncology
The size of the problem
Benign and malignant tumors

Tumors are genic diseases
Oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, gatekeeper and caretaker
Mechanisms of cancer gene activation/inactivation and their consequences
Therapeutic implications of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes
Genetic predispositions

The neoplastic phenotype
Growth, Differentiation, Cell death
Genomic instability
Morphological and metabolic features

Natural history
Monoclonality, Heterogeneity
Preneoplastic lesions
Progression

The causes of cancer
Exogenous and endogenous carcinogens
Biological and molecular mechanisms of physical, chemical and biological carcinogenesis
Cancer epidemiology
Primary, secondary and tertiary cancer prevention. Chemoprevention. Immunoprevention

Tumor-host relationships
Angiogenesis
The metastatic process
Paraneoplastic syndromes
Tumor immunology

Fundamentals of cancer therapy
Basis and molecular/biological mechanisms of cancer therapy: radiation therapy, drugs, biological and immunological agents, gene therapy

Readings/Bibliography

• Abbas et al: Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Elsevier.
• Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease (Robbins Pathology), Elsevier.
• Pontieri, Russo, Frati: Patologia Generale, (only chapters on oncology), Piccin.
• Boyle, Levin: World Cancer Report 2008. IARC, Download free PDF file at www.iarc.fr
• Weinberg: The Biology of Cancer, Garland Science.
• Pecorino: Molecular Biology of Cancer, Oxford University Press.
• DeVita, Lawrence, Rosenberg: Cancer, Principles and Practice of Oncology, LWW.

Teaching methods

Lectures

Assessment methods

The oral exam will cover all the subjects of the course. For students of Oncology courses ("corsi mutuati"), the exam will exclude Immunopathology.

The student has to answer questions to demonstrate his/her knowledge of specific subjects, the ability to understand the links between different parts of the course, and the use of appropriate terminology.

Teaching tools

All the slides used for lectures are made available to the students.

Office hours

See the website of Pier Luigi Lollini