Molecular Oncology

Features of the tumor progression (difficulties d. modern one tumor research, definitions, meaning of the tumor Microenvironments, Hallmarks of Cancer, Qualities of transformed cells in the experiment); Causes of the tumorigenesis (stem cells and tumor formation, wnt/hedgehog Self-renewal, mutations, repair, cellular answer to mutagens); Oncogenes (experiments of Rous, Rubin, Temin, Weinberg, def-initions, function classes of oncogenes and examples);
Tumor suppressor genes (definitions, Knudson two hit hypothesis, PTEN, Checkpoints of the cell cyc-le, pRB, p53, MDM2, Apoptose); Epigenetik (definitions, histone modifications, DNA methylation, pRb, CpG Islands, Examples, experiments of Mary Hendrix); Environment of the cell (components of a tu-mor, tumor stroma as therapeutical target, Extra cellular matrix: Components and meaning, interac-tions cell/ECM, Zell-Zell contact); Mechanisms of the metastasis cascade (steps of the cascade, Angi-ogenese, angiogenic switch, Invasion, cicatrization and cancer, tumor associated Mac-rophagen, epi-thelial mesenchymal transition, seed and soil hypothesis, role of proteases, metastatic niche; Marker-gene; Metastasis models in the mouse ); Proteases/proteolytic network (physiological and pathophysi-ological functions of proteases and protease inhibitors, regulation of proteases, splitting mechanisms, the proteolytic balance, Proteasenfamilien, Proteases as prognostic Marker, development of synthetic protease inhibitors, clinical examinations, optimization of synthetic protease inhibitors, the Cancerde-gradome); Specific methodology of the molecular oncology (in vivo model, biochemical/molecular proof methods of proteases and protease inhibitors, Zymography, knock-out Systeme, siRNA, shRNAi, viral vector systems, in vitro migration and invasion models); Deepening of the mentioned areas (discussion of current publications from relevant professional journals, acquirement of a recessed understanding of the learnt mechanisms)

The students will be able to understand and integrate almost every published information of modern cancer research and know the principle questions and implications addressed in upcoming publica-tions in the field. They are also able to judge the evolution of knowledge as they get insight into the history of major discoveries in the field which is meant to boost their self-confidence as future graduate students. Specifically the students are able not only to reproduce facts but are trained to associate pieces of knowledge and transfer this to unknown problems. The students aquire knowledge of a set of experimental procedures allowing them to design relevant experiments. This, together with the problem-oriented in-depth analyses of topic-related problems will enable them to be well-prepared for job-related questions even in other research fields in the life sciences.

Bachelor in life sciences, basics of biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics. Other modules are not a pre-requisite.

Talk with the development of schemes at teh blackboard, relatively sparse use of powerpoint slides.
Study of the script and the notes taken, suggested follow-ups in the literature.

Topics will be developed at the blackboard with the help of power point presentations. The script is made available beforehand.

No text books are necessary to pass the exam. Additional information can be obtained from:Cell and Molecular Biol-ogy. G. Karp. Wiley Verlag, 4. Auflage, ISBN: 0-471-65665-8
The Biology of Cancer. R. A. Weinberg. Garland Science, 1. Auflage, ISBN: 0-8153-4076-1

Prüfungsdauer (in min.): MolOnc1:90 MolOnc2:60.