Download Cancer Immunology Course Code: Credit Units: 4

Annexure
‘CD – 01(VIII)’
FORMAT FOR COURSE CURRICULUM
Course Title: Cancer Immunology
Credit Units: 4
Course Code:
L
T
P/S
SW/F
W
3
-
2
-
TOTAL
CREDIT
UNITS
4
Course Objectives: Cancers are a unique disease recognized to elicit a distinctive response from the immune system
giving rise to a branch of immunology dedicated to its study. This course aims to bring the students abreast with the
intricacies of this branch and its latest trends.
Prerequisites: Basic immunology and Understanding of Cell Biology
Student Learning Outcomes: At the end of this course, the students will be able to:
 Define and analyze the key features of cancers and classify various types of cancers
 Describe the mechanisms of cellular transformation.
 Illustrate the cellular and molecular process of immune evasion by cancer cells.
 Analyse mechanisms of immune modulation of cancer and develop knowledge on therapeutic strategies for cancer
control.
Course Contents/Syllabus:
Module I
Weightage (%)
25
Descriptors/Topics
Introduction to different classes of tumor. Tumour antigens Tumour specific antigens, tumour associated antigens
Oncospermatogonal antigens (“Cancer-Testis” antigens), Differentiation antigens
Oncofetal and carcinoembryonic antigens, Clonal antigens, Tumour antigens encoded by virus genes.
Module II
Descriptors/Topics
Immune response to tumours Concept of immune surveillanceEffector mechanisms in cancer immunity: Innate
and adaptive immune response, Assays to study the importance of effector mechanisms. Role of antibodies and B
cells, T lymphocytes, Natural killer cells and Lymphokine activated killer cells, Macrophages and neutrophils,
Cytokines in cancer immune response, Cancer stem cells and their properties.
Module III
Descriptors/Topics .
Evasion of immune response by tumours Role of immune system in promoting tumours Evasion mechanisms
Major histocompatibility complex, haplotype Tolerance versus ignoranceTumor microenvironment: Tumor stroma
and other local factors
Changes in expression of Class I major histocompatibility complex antigens Selection of antigen loss or epitope
loss variants
Antigenic modulation
Module IV
Immunotherapy of tumours, BCG, T cell therapy, Antibody-based therapy, Animal models in cancer research,
tumour vaccines, biomarkers in cancer
25
25
25
Module V
Descriptors/Topics
Pedagogy for Course Delivery: interactive classroom teaching from text books, published reviews and articles
Lab/ Practicals details, if applicable:
List of Experiments:
 Growth characteristics of normal and transformed cell line
 Viability assessment of cell lines
 Effect of cytotoxic agents on cancer cells
Assessment/ Examination Scheme:
Theory L/T (%)
Lab/Practical/Studio (%)
Total
75
25
100
Theory Assessment (L&T):
Continuous Assessment/Internal Assessment
Components
Weightage (%)
End Term
Examination
Class Test
Attendance
Assignment
15
5
10
70
Lab/ Practical/ Studio Assessment:
Continuous Assessment/Internal Assessment
Components (Drop
down
Weightage (%)
Class test
(practical based)
15
Practical record
Viva
5
10
End Term Examination
Practical
performance
40
Practical
record
10
Viva
20
Text


Cancer Immunology, RA Robins, RC Rees, RA Robin, 2001, Springer.
References:
Tumor Immunology: Molecularly Defined Antigens and Clinical Applications, Giorgio Parmiani & Michael T. Lotze, 2002, CRC Press.