Molecular Basis of Cancer and Cancer Therapy

Module code: INC7002-B

Module Aims       

To develop a systematic and critical understanding of the hallmarks of cancer, their implications for cancer treatment and opportunities for therapeutic intervention. The molecular biology of cancer will illustrate the identification of potential targets for therapeutic intervention and the importance of tumour pathology current and future treatment strategies.

Outline Syllabus   

There are two major themes within this module. The first is designed to inform students of current practise in Oncology and will focus on the classification of tumours, pathological parameters used to determine therapeutic intervention strategies and the classical chemotherapeutic drugs. The later will focus on the classification of current drugs, their mechanism of action and the problems associated with current drugs (i.e. toxicity, multi-drug resistance etc). It is widely acknowledged that new therapeutics are required and that tumour biology represents the driving force behind the development of new therapeutics. In order to understand these new approaches, the cancer pharmacologist must have a good understanding of the molecular and genetic/epigenetic basis of cancer and this therefore forms the basis of the second major theme in this module. This section will cover the 'hallmarks of cancer' in terms of self sufficiency in growth signals, evading apoptosis, insensitivity to anti-growth signals, sustained angiogenesis, tissue invasion and metastasis, unlimited replicative potential and genetic instability. The emphasis throughout will be placed on the differences that exist between tumour and normal cells as these represent a key step in developing novel therapeutics. Students will extend their literature searching, presentation and report writing skills in preparing a journal club, and molecular target profile report.

Download the PDF for Molecular Basis of Cancer and Cancer Therapy