Cancer

Summary module description:
Aims:
This module aims to provide a detailed study of current knowledge and understanding of the biology of cancer and how this can be used to clinical benefit in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. No person is left untouched by cancer at some stage in their lifetime in the modern world, but fear can be dispelled by knowledge, and it is hoped that in addition to offering this as an academic module that the knowledge gained may prove of personal lifetime benefit.

Assessable learning outcomes:
At the end of the module students will be able to:
?identify the contribution made to an understanding of cancer by epidemiological, genetic, molecular cell biological, animal model and clinical data and examine their relative importance;
?outline the current state of knowledge concerning carcinogenesis by radiation, chemicals and viruses;
?describe the cellular and molecular events in tumour growth, progression and metastasis;
?give an account of the action of oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes in cancer;
?describe how an understanding of the biology of cancer can be used to improve screening, diagnosis and treatment of cancer;
?assemble and evaluate information on specific named cancers in order to integrate the knowledge obtained from a variety of approaches.
Additional outcomes:
Outline content:
This module covers the current state of knowledge concerning the epidemiology, genetics, cell biology and molecular mechanisms in the development of cancer, and examines how an understanding of the biology of cancer can be used to improve diagnosis and treatment, and even prevention.
Lecture topics include:
?Stages in the development of cancer from a cell biological and clinical perspective
?Genetic susceptibility and risk factors identified by epidemiology
?Mechanisms by which radiation, chemicals and viruses can cause carcinogenesis
?The role of oncogenes
?The role of tumour suppressor genes
?Mechanisms of metastasis including angiogenesis
?Tumour immunology
?Application of cancer biology in discovering novel therapeutic targets including signal transduction pathways, the cell cycle, angiogenesis and endocrine therapy
?Discussion of strategies which could be used to reduce cancer rates or even prevent cancer

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
There are two 50-minute teaching sessions each week which aim to give knowledge and understanding of the subject, mostly in lecture form. Students carry out a case study of a particular cancer which attempts to integrate epidemiological, molecular cell biological and clinical approaches. Students present the results of their research to their colleagues in short group presentations towards the end of the term and each write individually an extended, referenced abstract of 250 words.

Contact hours:
Lectures- 20
Tutorials- 4
Guided independent study- 76
Total hours by term- 100
Total hours for module- 100

Other information on summative assessment:
Formative assessment methods:
Length of examination:
A two-hour examination

Requirements for a pass:
A mark of 40% overall.

Reassessment arrangements:
By examination in August/September.