Invasion & Metastization

Code:

OPT79

Acronym:

IM

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Medicine

Instance: 2020/2021 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Departamento de Patologia
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	17	Mestrado Integrado em Medicina- Plano oficial 2013 (Reforma Curricular)	4	-	3	27,5	81

Teaching language

Portuguese
Obs.: Português

Objectives

By the end of this UCO, students should know the cellular and molecular characteristics that are inherent to tumor invasion and metastasis, as well as recognize that these characteristics might be modulated by the tumor microenvironment.

These concepts will be explored using specific tumor models. The acquired knowledge will serve as the basis for the UCO Alvos Terapêuticos em Oncologia, where clinic cases and therapeutic strategies will be discussed.

Learning outcomes and competences

At the end, the students should be able to:

- Define and describe the principal characteristics of the tumour cells

- Define the concept of invasion and of metastasis

- Identify cellular and molecular alterations inherent to invasion and metastasis

- Describe the concept of pre-metastatic niche and micrometastases dormancy

- Discuss the concept of cancer stem cells and their importance for tumour heterogeneity

- Outline the role of the tumour microenvironment, in particular of the immune system, for invasion and metastasis

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

The UCO’s proposal is justified by the need of offering to students of the Integrated Master in Medicine from FMUP, basic knowledge on oncobiology, with a special focus on cellular and molecular activities inherent to tumour invasion and metastasis. The UCO promotes a strong discussion component, allowing students to reflect on the topics discussed, formulating their own personal opinion face to concepts and dogmas established in the area. It is also intended that students receive training to prepare the development of their own research projects in the oncobiology field. The programmatic content of this UCO aims to provide basic concepts relevant for the clinical practice in medical oncology.

Program

1. “Hallmarks of Cancer”: maintenance of cell proliferation; cell cycle suppressor signals evasion; resistance to cell death; replicative immortality; mutations and genomic instability; inflammation in the tumor microenvironment; immune system evasion; cell metabolism reprogramming; angiogenesis; invasion and metastasis

2. Cell and molecular alterations associated to tumor invasion: altered cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, proteolysis and migration/motility

3. Cell and molecular alterations associated to metastasis: intravasation, extravasation, new organ colonization and metastatic specificity

4. Pre-metastatic niche and micrometastasis dormancy

5. The role of cancer stem cells and tumor heterogeneity for invasion and metastasis

6. The tumor microenvironment as regulator of cancer cell invasion and metastasis: the ECM, immune cells (macrophages, lymphocytes, dendritic cells), fibroblasts and myofibroblasts, adipocytes

Mandatory literature

Hanahan D, Weinberg R; Hallmarks of cancer: the next generation, 2011
Joyce JA, Pollard JW; Microenvironmental regulation of metastasis, 2009
Nguyen DX, Bos PD, Massagué J; Metastasis: from dissemination to organ-specific colonization, 2009
Psaila B, Lyden D; The metastatic niche: adapting the foreign soil, 2009
Friedl P, Wolf K; Tumour-cell invasion and migration: diversity and escape mechanisms
Klein CA; Parallel progression of primary tumours and metastases, 2009

Complementary Bibliography

Smith SC, Theodorescu D; Learning therapeutic lessons from metastasis suppressor proteins., 2009
Polyak K and Weinberg RA; Transitions between epithelial and mesenchymal states: acquisition of malignant and stem cell traits, 2009
Nguyen DX, Massagué J; Genetic determinants of cancer metastasis, 2007

Teaching methods and learning activities

The lectures are intended to provide the necessary knowledge regarding the biological processes involved in invasion and metastasis, using reference of concrete tumour models. The sequence of the subjects discussed aims the accumulation of knowledge providing students an integrative view and an informed argumentation.

The seminars, presented by researchers/professors specialized in oncobiology, will establish the connection between addressed concepts, research and clinical practice.

The presentation of scientific articles will allow students to discuss the topics addressed along the UCO and to evaluate their ability to integrate the acquired knowledge, to interpret results and to formulate their own critical opinion.

Type of evaluation:

Presentation and discussion of scientific articles previously provided and accounting for 25% of the final classification.

Written examination (2 hours): test with multiple-choice questions and open questions with short answer, accounting for 75% of the final classification.

The classification will be express in a scale from 0 to 20, according to both evaluation criteria.

keywords

Health sciences > Medical sciences > Medicine > Oncology
Health sciences > Medical sciences > Medicine > General pathology

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	25,00
Exame	75,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	4,00
Estudo autónomo	55,00
Frequência das aulas	22,00
Total:	81,00

Eligibility for exams

Terms of frequency: the students should assist to at least to 75% of the classes provided.

Calculation formula of final grade

Formula Evaluation: Final grade= 0,25*articles presentation grade+0,75*final writen exam grade (from 0 to 20)