The student should know the cell cycle and its regulation, the mechanisms of apoptosis, histology and general pathology, and immunology. He/she should also have notions in digestive physiology, general and organic chemistry, molecular genetics and epidemiology.
Oncogenic effects of toxic factors, nutriments and living organisms will be developed, with focus on some frequent or well understood examples of neoplastic transformation.
Toxic factors and drugs : oncogenic effects of tobacco, alcohol, asbest fibres, aristolochic acid, endocrine agents and some chemical products will be presented among others.
Food link to cancer : the course will envisage cancer induced by some nutriments, cooking or storing methods, relationship between food culture and types of cancer, and the possible role of gut microbiota on cancer.
Viruses and other germs : cancer secondary to infection by Papovaviruses and Herpes viruses will be extensively developed. Cancers linked to hepatitis virus and Helicobacter pylori will be briefly presented.
The student should understand how foreign factors may alter the mechanisms regulating cell proliferation and differentiation and induce neoplastic transformation.
The contribution of this Teaching Unit to the development and command of the skills and learning outcomes of the programme(s) can be accessed at the end of this sheet, in the section entitled “Programmes/courses offering this Teaching Unit”.
Individual examination will be made by written answer to questions on each general topic of the course.
The course will be given in 15 lectures with slides available before each presentation.
Five lectures will be on toxic factors, 5 on the link between food and cancer and 5 on the role of micro-organisms in the genesis of some cancers.
Slides of the lectures will be available on iCampus.
