Molecular Cell Biology of Tumorigenesis

The development and progression of tumors is taught on a molecular genetic and cell biological basis. General basics of molecular cell biology are also taught, especially in the first part, while the second part focuses on translational aspects. Topics:
- Tumor Viruses
- Oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes and tumor modulators
- Signal transduction and growth factors
- Cytoskeleton, cell adhesion and cell migration
- Cell cycle and cell division
- Telomer structure and chromosomal instability
- apoptosis and necrosis, as well as other forms of cell death
- Angiogenesis
- Adult stem cells and "tumor stem cells", tumor metabolism
- Embryonic development of the mouse, embryonic stem cells, knock-out and knock-in technique
- Mouse models in biomedical research: Xenotransplant models, transgenesis in mice
- Tissue-specific and inducible models: Cre/LoxP, Crispr/Cas mutagenesis
- Imaging techniques in tumor research (multiphoton microscopy, MRT, PET/CT, OCT)
- Tumor-Stroma Interactions
- Basics of tumor immunology
- Basics of "rational therapy

After successful completion of the module, students will have in-depth knowledge of cell biology and molecular biology from all aspects of tumor biology.
They know how to move independently and confidently between clinical application and basic scientific knowledge in the field of biomedical cancer research. Students are able to independently evaluate current, English-language technical literature in the field of cancer research. Successful graduates have acquired a broad knowledge to analytically structure and experimentally solve problems in the field of cancer research, supported by practical research skills and experimental-analytical knowledge from the research internship.

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The module consists of two lectures and an tutorial. During the lecture, the learning outcomes are conveyed through lectures, supported by presentations. Students are encouraged to study the technical literature and to deal with the content of the topics. During the tutorial, moderated discussions are held to consolidate the topics learned. In addition, homework will be given during the "tutorial" to help students to understand the contents of the lecture in greater depth, for example, on the genetic basis of transgenesis in pre-clinical animal models. In addition, the students give presentations during the tutorial, including a written handout, in order to practise a technically correct verbal expression. Optionally, a research internship (at least 6 weeks per 40 hours) in the field of tumor biology can be taken.

Presentations via PowerPoint, blackboard work; Inverted Classroom at a selected lecture date per semester; films; online feedback survey via PINGO
script (download possibility for lecture material on TUMonline) set to Moodle

There is no textbook available that covers all contents of this module. The following is recommended as a basis or supplement: 1) Biology of Cancer, Robert Weinberg, Garland Science 2006; ISBN: 0815340761
2) Textbook of Molecular Cell Biology, Alberts et al., Wiley VCH, 2007 ISBN: 3527311602
3) The Mouse in biomedical research. James G. Fox (Ed.). Academic Press, 2007. ISBN: 9780123694546
4) Mouse Models of Human Cancer. Eric C. Holland (Editor), Wiley-VCH, 2004 ISBN: 978-0-471-44460-2

A written exam (60 min, graded, no aids) at the end of the second semester serves to test the theoretical skills learned during the module. In the written exam, the students show whether they are able to structure the knowledge they have acquired in tumor biology and present the essential aspects. They should be able to describe and interpret the acquired information, combine it meaningfully and transfer it to similar situations.
A 20-minute presentation (graded, incl. written handout) is intended to demonstrate the acquisition of the competence to independently and critically interpret current research work from the English language literature. The presentation will be given as a mid-term performance (weighting: exam 66%, mid-term performance 33%) and will be taken into account in the examination period at the end of the second semester, but not on a repeat exam.