MF9235 – Molecular Cancer Medicine

Course content

Modern Cancer Biology research, translational research and personalized cancer medicine rely heavily on the molecular understanding of cancer. This course provides a state-of-the-art thorough overview of the current understanding of molecular Cancer Biology.

The purpose of the course is to equip students with a solid foundation to work in the forefront of Cancer Research, and to provide a foundation for effective translational cancer research. 

This is achieved by combining the following elements:

• Classical lectures based on a comprehensive textbook in Cancer Biology (The Biology of Cancer, Robert A. Weinberg) to assure a solid understanding of cancer biology.
• Research-based lectures by active researchers at the forefront of Cancer Biology Research.
• Group work and student presentations of recent research papers to allow for in depth discussions of the subjects and state of the art techniques in cancer research.
• Site visits in research labs at the comprehensive cancer centre to provide a practical understanding of select techniques and approaches used in modern molecular cancer biology research.
• Examples of translational research and personalized treatment.
• Examples of translational biology research and rational cancer therapy will be given.

All teaching is conducted by active national and international researchers in molecular Cancer Biology.

Learning outcome

The course will give you knowledge about:

• The complex biology of cancer
• In depth understanding of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes.
• The genes and pathways altered during cellular transformation
• Cellular signaling pathways in cancer and how to study them in a cancer context.
• Multistep tumorigenesis
• Invasion and metastasis
• Bioinformatics in cancer research
• Transcriptomics and proteomics for cancer research
• Model systems in cancer research
• Tumor-microenvironment interactions
• Cancer cachexia
• Tumor immunology
• Rational cancer therapy
• Techniques in cancer research

Admission to the course

PhD candidates and master students can apply for this course.

Maximum number of participants is 40.

Applicants admitted to a PhD programme at UiO sign up for classes and exam to this course in StudentWeb.

Applicants who are not admitted to a PhD programme at UiO must apply for a right to study before they can sign up for classes and exam to this course. See information here: How to apply for a right to study and admission to elective PhD courses in medicine and health sciences

Applicants will upon registration receive an immediate reply in StudentWeb as to whether a seat at this course is granted or not.

Recommended previous knowledge

Students should have a prior thorough understanding of cell biology and molecular biology.

Passed exam in MBV3020 Molecular Genetics and developmental biology or equivalent

Overlapping courses

• 10 credits overlap with MEDFL5235 – Molecular Cancer Medicine.

Teaching

The course is an intensive full four weeks course.

Week 1-3. Each day typically has 3 Lectures and 2 hours of group work/journal club. Some days also will have site visits.

Week 4 is reserved for journal club presentations by students, reading and exam writing.

• Journal club: 26 hours
• Lectures: 38 hours
• Site visits: 6 hours

The curriculum is based on the text book "The biology of Cancer, 2nd edition, Robert A. Weinberg, Garland Science and lecture notes.

Required reading: 500 pages and original research articles or reviews connected to the lectures as journal clubs. At the end of the course, each student will present a selected article as a journal club. The extensive use of articles and current reviews ensure an up-to-date understanding of technologies, current controversies and outstanding questions in each field.

You have to participate in at least 80 % of the teaching to be allowed to take the exam. Attendance at lectures will be registered.

Examination

The exam will consist of two parts:

• An oral article presentation given by each student.
• A written home exam in the form of a mini review at the end of the course.

The oral presentation must be awarded a passing grade before the date of the written exam.

Language of examination

The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.