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

What is cancer? Benign and malignant tumors, Nomenclature
and classifications, Epidemiology: the size of the problem

CANCER IS A GENIC DISEASE

Oncogenes

Tumor suppressor genes

Hereditary cancer

NATURAL HISTORY OF TUMORS

Cancer hallmarks, Tumor heterogeneity, Tumor progression

TUMOR – HOST RELATIONSHIPS

Angiogenesis, Microenvironment, Metastatic spread

Tumor immunology

CARCINOGENESIS

Fundamentals of carcinogenesis, Physical carcinogenesis

Chemical carcinogenesis

Complex mixtures: Tobacco, Alcohol, Diet, Environmental pollution

Biological carcinogenesis

CANCER PREVENTION

Primary and secondary cancer prevention, Chemoprevention, Immunoprevention

CANCER THERAPY

Fundamentals of cancer therapy: Surgery, Radiotherapy, Chemotherapy, Targeted therapy, Gene therapy, Immunotherapy

Readings/Bibliography

• Lollini: Cellular & Molecular Oncology
• 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

The textbook "Cellular and Molecular Oncology" and 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