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The
term "cancer" refers to a group of diseases, all of which involve a
breakdown in the normal control of cell growth and division in the animal body.
All cancers begin as genetic defects (inherited, acquired or both) that act on
individual cells to change their structure and behavior. In this course we
will examine the genetic and cellular basis of these diseases, and what they
have taught us about normal control of cell proliferation in multi-cellular
organisms. Previous training in genetics, cell biology and biochemistry will
help you master the material presented in this course. Spring Term Lectures: Tuesday Tutorials: Thursdays at 2:15 pm Instructor: Moira Galway, Room 418, JBB, tel. 3841 Textbook: Kleinsmith, LJ. 2006. Principles of Cancer Biology, Benjamin Cummings (Pearson Education Inc.), San Francisco, CA. Marking Scheme (tentative):
Lecture Topics: January: What is cancer? Terminology, naming and classifying cancers and tumours. The cancer cell. Tumour formation, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis. February: Chemicals and radiation as carcinogens. DNA repair. Infectious agents in cancer. March: Heredity in cancer. Oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes. Advances in preventing and treating cancer. Tutorial Schedule (tentative): January: Presentation and critique of cancer news items. Histopathology workshop. Animal use in cancer research. February: Reading research papers in cancer biology. Human clinical trials and gene therapy. Epidemiology and cancer. March: Second presentation and critique of cancer news items. Germ-line mutations and cancer. The discovery of BRCA1 and its mutations. Oral presentation and discussion of research papers. Additional Course Information Will Be Posted Here. Some Cancer Information on the Web: HPV Vaccine information from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (USA).
CancerNet (http://cancernet.nci.nih.gov/). The National Cancer
Institute (
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