Molecular mechanisms of response and therapeutic resistance in cancer

Code:

OPT20

Acronym:

MMRRTC14

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Medicine

Instance: 2014/2015 - SP

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Departamento de Patologia e Oncologia
Course/CS Responsible:	Integrated Master in Medicine

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIMED	7	Mestrado Integrado em Medicina- Plano oficial 2013 (Reforma Curricular)	2	-	1,5	14	40,5

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

1 - To consolidate the learning concerning the basic principles of cancer and to identify the key molecular oncogenic pathways of the cell.

2 - Identify the major molecular therapeutic targets in cancer and describe their importance in cancer therapeutic management.

3 - To identify the different forms of therapeutic resistance in cancer

4 - To interpret the signaling crosstalk of the major oncogenic pathways in the context of the response and therapeutic resistance.

5 - To explain the importance of the molecular biomarkers in the clinical oncology practice, especially on the stratification of the patients and on the therapeutic decision.

6 - To discuss the importance of the translational research in cancer to the identification of new drugable targets.

Learning outcomes and competences

By the end of this Unidade Curricular Optativa, students should be able to:
1 -  Undersatand the basic principles of cancer and to identify the key molecular oncogenic pathways of the cell.

2 - Identify the major molecular therapeutic targets in cancer and describe their importance in cancer therapeutic management.

3 - Identify the different forms of therapeutic resistance in cancer

4 - Interpret the signaling crosstalk of the major oncogenic pathways in the context of the response and therapeutic resistance.

5 - Explain the importance of the molecular biomarkers in the clinical oncology practice, especially on the stratification of the patients and on the therapeutic decision.

6 - Discuss the importance of the translational research in cancer to the identification of new drugable targets.

Working method

Presencial

Program

I – Brief introduction to the major signaling pathways in caner.

II – Major therapeutic targets in cancer

III – Different forms of therapy resistance: intrinsic and acquired resistance

IV – Genetic mechanism of therapeutic resistance

V – Non-genetic mechanisms of therapeutic resistance

VI – The cellular metabolism as a determinant for drug response

VII – Biomarkers as predictive factors of response or therapeutic resistance

VIII – Biomarkers as a step for personalized medicine: translational research

Mandatory literature

Robert A. Weinberg; The Biology of Cancer, Garland Science

Complementary Bibliography

Osborne CK, Schiff R; Mechanisms of endocrine resistance in breast cancer, 2011
Massarweh S, Schiff R; Unraveling the mechanisms of endocrine resistance in breast cancer: new therapeutic opportunities, 2007
Longley DB, Johnston PG; Molecular mechanisms of drug resistance, 2005
Gottesman M M, Fojo T, Bates SE. ; Multidrug resistance in cancer: role of ATP–dependent transporters, 2002
Ozben T; Mechanisms and strategies to overcome multiple drug resistance in cancer, 2006
Garofalo M, Croce C. ; MicroRNAs as therapeutic targets in chemoresistance, 2012
Zheng T, Wang J, Chen X,Liu L. ; Role of microRNA in anticancer drug resistance, 2010
Eckford PDW and Sharom FJ. ; ABC Efflux Pump-Based Resistance to Chemotherapy Drugs, 2009
Gottesman M; Mechanisms of Cancer Drug Resistance, 2002
Gillet JP, Gottesman MM.; Mechanisms of multidrug resistance in cancer., 2010
O'Brien CS, Howell SJ, Farnie G, Clarke RB.; Resistance to endocrine therapy: are breast cancer stem cells the culprits?, 2009
Flavahan WA, Wu Q, Hitomi M, Rahim N, Kim Y, Sloan AE, Weil RJ, Nakano I, Sarkaria JN, Stringer BW, Day BW, Li M, Lathia JD, Rich JN, Hjelmeland AB. ; Brain tumor initiating cells adapt to restricted nutrition through preferential glucose uptake, 2013

Teaching methods and learning activities

The UCO will be taught through:
a) Lectures 
b) Seminars
c) Discussion of scientific papers

Evaluation Type

Evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	100,00
Total:	100,00

Calculation formula of final grade

Written Exam with multiple-choice questions and associations questions.