Classification; morphologic and behavioural characteristics; epidemiology; interactions between genetic and non genetic factors; non-heridatary predisposing conditions; molecular basis of cancer; oncogenes; tumor suppressor genes; evasion of apoptosis; angiogenesis; genomic instability and tumour progression; local invasion and metastasis; metabolic alterations: the Warburg effect; initiation and promotion of chemical carcinogenesis; radiation carcinogenesis; microbial carcinogenesis; immunity and tumours; grading and staging of tumours.
All slides relative to the course will be available for the students. Moreover, the following textbooks will be recommended:
-Robbins and Cutran “Le basi patologiche delle malattie”, Ed. Piccin;
-Uzman, A. (2008) The biology of cancer by R. A. Weinberg. Garland Sciences;
-Hanahan D, Weinberg RA.Cell. (2000). The hallmark of cancer. 100:57-70.
Learning Objectives
Knolewdge acquired: introduction to the molecular mechanisms of cancer onset; knowledge about morphological, functional, metabolic alterations of cancer cells; knowledge about tumour incidence and distribution in human population.
Competence acquired:
Identification of the main features of cancer cells; learning about the most common types of cancer and their classification; tumoural markers used in diagnostics and clinics; microscopic amarkers used in the diagnostics andcaoneerations of cancer cellsno nell'
Prerequisites
Courses to be used as requirements (required and/or recommended)
Cytology and histology, biochemistry.
Courses required:
Courses recommmended
Teaching Methods
Total hours of the course (including the time spent in attending lectures, seminars, private study, examinations, etc...): 8 for theoretical lessons, 16 for practical lessons
Hours reserved to private study and other indivual formative activities:
Contact hours for: Lectures (hours):
they will be clearly defined throughout the course.
Contact hours for: Laboratory (hours):
they will be clearly defined throughout the course.
Contact hours for: Laboratory-field/practice (hours):
they will be clearly defined throughout the course.
Seminars (hours):
they will be clearly defined throughout the course.
Stages: 0
Intermediate examinations: 0
Further information
Frequency of lectures, practice and lab:
Frequency of lectures, practice and lab recommended
Teaching tools
Slides, consumables for practical procedures.
Office hours: on request
Type of Assessment
Written examination: 2 questions regarding Oncology arguments. Moreover, an oncology test based on the interpretation of a slide relative to a tumoral sample.
Course program
Nomenclature: benign tumours and malignant tumours; characteristics of benign and malignant neoplasms; differentiation and anaplasia; rate of growth; local invasion and metastasis; epidemiology; genetic predisposition and cancer; interactions between genetic and non genetic factors; non-heridatary predisposing conditions; molecular basis of cancer; oncogenes; tumor suppressor genes; evasion of apoptosis; angiogenesis; genomic instability and tumour progression; stromal microenvironment and carcinogenesis; metabolic alterations: the Warburg effect; molecular basis of multistep carcinogenesis; initiation and promotion of chemical carcinogenesis; radiation carcinogenesis; microbial carcinogenesis; immunity and tumours; grading and staging of tumours.