01132 - Molecular Pathology - Immunology (Integrated Course) (LZ-C)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student knows the mechanism through which genomic alterations cause diseases; the phenotype of  tumor cells, the origin and natural history of tumors within the framework of cancer prevention and innovative preclinical approaches to the control of cancer; the student is able to apply this knowledge to specific pathologies.

Course contents

The following syllabus includes the entire program of the Basic Oncology module. The integrated course also includes Immunology and Genetic Pathology.

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
    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

Note: english-speaking students can use original versions of the books, when available.

Recommended

Robbins, Le basi patologiche delle malattie, 8th ed., Elsevier

Alternative

Pontieri, Patologia generale, Piccin

Teaching methods

Lectures.

Assessment methods

The final grade takes into account the synthesis of final evaluations of different subjects belonging to the integrated course of Immunology and Molecular Pathology. Each single evaluation (performed as oral or written test as to Immunology) is integrated in order to obtain the unique final grade (maximum 30 points). Such grade is the CFU-weighted average of grades obtained in specific questions on main objectives of the integrated course (10 CFU), which consists of the following three subjects: Immunology (5 CFU), Genetic Pathology and Oncology (5 CFU).Examination is passed if the grade in each subjects is not lower than 18 points.

Teaching tools

All the slides shown during lectures can be downloaded from the Campus web site.

Office hours

See the website of Pier Luigi Lollini