Cancer is a disease that exploits basic principles governing the functions of cells and organisms. Understanding cancer biology requires a highly multidisciplinary approach and is a prerequisite for the conception and future implementation of novel therapies.
The course "Principles of cancer biology" discusses the major concepts of current understanding of tumor initiation, progression and escape from treatment. It is complementary to both the " Cell Fate Plasticity" and to "Cancer Therapy" modules.
Format: Lectures 30 h ; analysis and discussion of articles 10 h
Part I : Basic concepts (8 hrs)
- What is cancer? Hallmarks of cancer
- Oncogenes and tumour suppressors
- Genetic instability and cancer
Part II : Cellular Processes (11 hrs)
- Cell cycle deregulation in cancer/mitosis
- Autophagy: treatment escape
- Epithelial-to-MesenchymalTransition (EMT)
- Cancer metabolism
Part III : Pathophysiological processes (10 hrs)
- Hypoxia, neo-Angiogenesis
- Response to stress
- Infection and cancer
- Microenvironment, Inflammation
Part IV : Plasticity/heterogeneity (11 hrs)
- Tumour initiating cells, plasticity
- Minimal residual disease, circulating cancer cells, liquid biopsy, cancer dormancy
- Inter- and intra-tumoral heterogeneity
- Tumour evolution and progression