Download Course Specifications

Course
Specifications
From the academic year 2016-2017 up to and including the academic year 2017-2018
Cancer Genetics (D012178)
Course size
Credits 6.0
(nominal values; actual values may depend on programme)
Study time 180 h
Contact hrs
55.0 h
Course offerings and teaching methods in academic year 2017-2018
A (semester 2)
group work
2.5 h
lecture
25.0 h
microteaching
2.5 h
Lecturers in academic year 2017-2018
Speleman, Franki
De Preter, Katleen
Matthijssens, Filip
Mestdagh, Pieter
GE02
GE02
GE02
GE02
Offered in the following programmes in 2017-2018
lecturer-in-charge
co-lecturer
co-lecturer
co-lecturer
crdts
offering
Teaching languages
Dutch
Keywords
Oncogenomics, chromosome abnormalities, mutations, epigenetic modifications,
miRNA, tumor suppressor gene, oncogene, mouse models, molecular therapy
Position of the course
This course focusses on various characteristics of genetic defects occurring in cancer,
based on previous basic knowledge of medical genetics. This course aims to provide
insight into the nature of these genetic defects and how they lead to cancer formation.
The course illustrates how our increasing knowledge of cancer genetics contributes to
the development of molecular targeted therapies.
Contents
• Survey of the most important genetic and epigenetic defects occuring in tumor cells.
• Diagnostic and prognostic signification of genetic defects in cancer.
• The contribution of genetic research to insights into the molecular pathogenesis and
• the development of new treatments.
• The identification of genes and signaling pathways involved in cancer.
• Gene expression profiling in cancer.
• Family cancer syndromes, research techniques, model systems, high throughput
• technology in cancer genetic research.
Initial competences
Having successfully completed the courses Cytology and general histology, Human
genetics, Molecular biology I, Molecular biology II and Human pathogenesis from the
bachelor program biomedical sciences, or having acquired the relevant ending
objectives by other means.
HAving completed succesfully the bachelor degree in biomedical sciences or having
acquired the relevant ending objectives by other means.
Final competences
1 • Understanding the (epi)genetic basis of cancer, the type of genetic
1 defects and their consequences to the cancer phenotype.
2 • Having insight as to how knowledge of the molecular pathogenesis
(Approved)
1
1 can lead to the identification of targets for innovative, more efficient and less toxic
1 molecular therapy.
3 • Knowing the various types of genes involved in cancer and having
1 insight into the importance of the discovery of these genes in unraveling the
1 molecular pathogenesis of cancer.
4 • Understanding the strategies for the study of genetic defects in
1 cancer.
5 • Being able to situate the most important discoveries obtained by the
1 different research platforms.
Conditions for credit contract
Access to this course unit via a credit contract is determined after successful competences
assessment
Conditions for exam contract
This course unit cannot be taken via an exam contract
Teaching methods
Group work, lecture, microteaching
Learning materials and price
Powerpoint presentations, review articles (english, PDFs) No costs
References
• The Biology of Cancer, Ed. Robert A. Weinberg, Garland Science, 2007
Course content-related study coaching
Evaluation methods
end-of-term evaluation and continuous assessment
Examination methods in case of periodic evaluation during the first examination period
Oral examination
Examination methods in case of periodic evaluation during the second examination period
Oral examination
Examination methods in case of permanent evaluation
Participation, job performance assessment, report
Possibilities of retake in case of permanent evaluation
examination during the second examination period is not possible
Extra information on the examination methods
periodic evaluation:
oral exam with written preparation
non periodic evaluation:
- written exam
- permanent evaluation during the internship (on attitude, knowledge and skills)
Calculation of the examination mark
periodic evaluation: 90%
non periodic evaluation: 10%
when a student's attendance to the internship is less than 80 %, the student gets a final
score of 9/20 regardless of the score of the periodic evaluation
(Approved)
2