Note from June 29, 2020
Although we do not yet know how long the social distancing related to the Covid-19 pandemic will last, and regardless of the changes that had to be made in the evaluation of the June 2020 session in relation to what is provided for in this learning unit description, new learnig unit evaluation methods may still be adopted by the teachers; details of these methods have been - or will be - communicated to the students by the teachers, as soon as possible.
Although we do not yet know how long the social distancing related to the Covid-19 pandemic will last, and regardless of the changes that had to be made in the evaluation of the June 2020 session in relation to what is provided for in this learning unit description, new learnig unit evaluation methods may still be adopted by the teachers; details of these methods have been - or will be - communicated to the students by the teachers, as soon as possible.
3 credits
30.0 h
Q1
Teacher(s)
Constantinescu Stefan; Decottignies Anabelle; Feron Olivier; Lemaigre Frédéric (coordinator); Sonveaux Pierre;
Language
French
Prerequisites
fundamental principles in cell and molecular biology, and in biochemistry (metabolism) taught during the baccalaureate.
Main themes
The course describes the molecular and cell biology of intercellular signaling in normal condition and cancer, the mode of action of anti-cancer drugs, the interaction between tumor cells and their micro-environment, angiogenesis and metabolic anomalies resulting from the adaptation of tumor cells to their micro-environment (hypoxia and acidosis). The course will also address the issue of tumor cell immortality.
Aims
At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to : | |
| 1 |
The course is expected to provide the students with the competence to: - master the main intercellular signaling pathways, the interactions between tumor cells and blood vessels, the principles of cell immortality and the determinants of tumor cell metabolism; - understand and explain how perturbed intercellular signaling, abnormal metabolism and cell immortality contribute to to tumor initiation and progression, and metastasis; - understand and explain how anti-cancer drug modulate intercellular signaling; - be able to design an experimental approach aiming at the identification of therapeutic targets; - be able to critically address an oral presentation or article in the field; - use the acquired knowledge to address knew issues. |
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”.
Content
The course describes the molecular and cell biology of intercellular signaling in normal condition and cancer, the mode of action of anti-cancer drugs, the interaction between tumor cells and their environment, angiogenesis and metabolic anomalies resulting from the adaptation of tumor cells to their micro-environment (hypoxia and acidosis). The course also addresses the issue of tumor cell immortality.
At the end of the course, the students are expected to master the main intercellular signaling pathways, the interactions between tumor cells and blood vessels, the principles of cell immortality and the determinants of tumor cell metabolism; to understand and explain how perturbed intercellular signaling, abnormal metabolism and cell immortality contribute to tumor progression and metastasis; to understand and explain how anticancer drug modulate intercellular signaling; to be able to design an experimental approach aiming at the identification of therapeutic targets; to use the acquired knowledge to address new issues.
At the end of the course, the students are expected to master the main intercellular signaling pathways, the interactions between tumor cells and blood vessels, the principles of cell immortality and the determinants of tumor cell metabolism; to understand and explain how perturbed intercellular signaling, abnormal metabolism and cell immortality contribute to tumor progression and metastasis; to understand and explain how anticancer drug modulate intercellular signaling; to be able to design an experimental approach aiming at the identification of therapeutic targets; to use the acquired knowledge to address new issues.
Teaching methods
Lecture courses
Evaluation methods
Written exam with open questions evaluating the student's knowledge and the student's ability to implement the knowledge to solve a biological problem.
Other information
Prerequisite: fundamental principles in cell and molecular biology, and biochemistry (metabolism) taught duting the baccalaureate.
Online resources
Slides presented during courses and teaching notes are made available on http://moodleucl.uclouvain.be/
Bibliography
The biology of Cancer, R.A. Weinberg, Garland Publishing
Faculty or entity
FASB
