01132 - Molecular Pathology - Immunology (Integrated Course) (A)

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 (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

Robbins, Le basi patologiche delle malattie, 9th ed., Elsevier
(English-speaking students can use the original version)

or

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 Maurizio Brigotti