85150 - Experimental Oncology

Learning outcomes

At the end the student will know the transformed phenotype, the pathogenesis of cancer, including the interactions with the microenvironment and the immune system, and molecular cancer progression up to the metastatic diffusion. The student will be able to identify the phases of development and the tumor types relevant to human oncology and to define molecular targets for innovative targeted therapies.

Course contents

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, "gatekeepers" and "caretakers"
• 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

Tumor-host relationships

• Angiogenesis
• The metastatic process
• Paraneoplastic syndromes
• Tumor immunology

Fundamentals of cancer prevention

• Primary prevention
• Secondary prevention

Fundamentals of cancer therapy

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

Readings/Bibliography

•Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, (Robbins Pathology)Chapter on Neoplasia 

•Pontieri, Russo, Frati: Patologia Generale, Chapters on Oncology 

•AIOM-AIRTUM: I numeri del cancro in Italia. www.aiom.it

•Weinberg: The biology of cancer

•Pecorino: Molecular Biology of Cancer

•DeVita, Lawrence, Rosenberg: Cancer, Principles and Practice of Oncology

Teaching methods

Lectures

Assessment methods

The oral exam will cover all the subjects of the course. 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.

Gradation of the final mark:

Insufficient: lack of preparation. Serious and repeated conceptual errors.

18-19: knowledge of the basic concepts without serious gaps. Exposition of concepts and language as a whole acceptable.

20-24: knowledge of the basic concepts without gaps. Ability to analyze and link in partial autonomy. Exposure of discrete concepts and language.

25-29: preparation of good or very good level or even excellent preparation but with inaccuracies in the presentation that compromise the achievement of full marks. Ability to analyze and link independently. Exposure of concepts in the right succession and mastery of the language.

30-30L: full preparation, consolidated and without inaccuracies on the topics covered in the course. Ability to promptly frame the topic. Ability to analyze and connect independently. Concepts in the right succession and full command of the specific language.

Teaching tools

All the slides and other teaching tools used for lectures are made available to the students.

Office hours

See the website of Pier Luigi Lollini