Cancer Genetics

Timetable

• Lectures in March and April 2026,
• Conversational classes in May and June 2026,
• Max 2 groups

 

Module aim (aims)

To familiarize students with:

• short history of cancer detection and treatment
• mutagens and DNA adducts, occupational hazards,
• types of mutations/DNA damage,
• DNA repair mechanisms,
• mutations in DNA repair mechanisms genes – germline and somatic mutations,
• tumor suppressor genes – two-hit Knudson theory,
• protooncogenes/oncogenes
• mechanisms of genetic instability,
• clonal expansion of cancer cells,
• chronic inflammation as a cancer risk factor,
• concepts of cancer genes: gatekeepers, caretakers, and landscapers
• cancer development as a multistage process explained using colorectal cancer,
• cancer genomes and cancer pathways
• hallmark of cancer cells, targeted molecular therapies.

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

human (mammalian) cell biology, cell cycle regulation, basic genetics

Syllabus

Lectures (15 hours):

1) A short history of cancer, and introduction to cancer detection and treatment from a historical perspective, types of mutagens and DNA adducts, occupational hazards, types of mutations and DNA damage,

2) DNA repair mechanisms, mutations in DNA repair mechanisms genes – germline and somatic mutations,

3) Tumor suppressor genes – two-hit Knudson theory,

4) Protooncogenes and oncogenes, cancer development as a multistage process explained using colorectal cancer as an example,

5) Mechanisms of genetic instability, concepts of cancer genes: gatekeepers, caretakers, and landscapers

6) Clonal expansion of cancer cells, chronic inflammation as a cancer risk factor,

7) Cancer genomes and pathways, hallmarks of cancer cells, targeted molecular therapies.

Conversational classes (15 hours):

1-7) A list of topics closely related to the lecture content will be presented at the beginning of the course and each student will choose one topic and prepare a 20-30 min talk using a PowerPoint presentation, after which there will be a short discussion. The talk will be graded with all required feedback from the teacher. 

Reading list

Fred Bunz, Principles of Cancer Genetics, Third Edition, Springer Nature Switzerland, 2023