Epigenetics and Cancer II

Code:

OPT_MOM13_9

Acronym:

PDMOM13_9

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Medicine

Instance: 2024/2025 - SP

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Departamento de Biomedicina
Course/CS Responsible:	Molecular Medicine and Oncology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
PDMOM	8	Current Studies Plan	1	-	3	14	81

Teaching language

Portuguese and english

Objectives

1. Recognize the major types of epigenetic mechanisms and their implications for regulation of gene expression;


2. Understand the complexity of interactions between various epigenetic mechanisms;


3. Identify key genes and enzymes involved in epigenetic regulation;


4. Enumerate and characterize the main epigenetic alterations involved in neoplastic transformation and progression;


5. Recognize the reciprocal interactions between genetic and epigenetic mechanisms involved in tumorigenesis;


6. Epigenetic Immunity Control


7. Interrelationship with tumor metabolism


8. Identify the main therapeutic strategies based on the reversibility of epigenetic alterations, namely those based on the mechanism of action of DNA methyltransferase inhibitors, as well as histone deacetylases and methyltransferases;


9. Understand the potential of epigenetic alterations as molecular biomarkers for tumor detection, assessment of prognosis and prediction of response to therapy.

Learning outcomes and competences

SKILLS

1. Critically examine the published literature in the area of Cancer Epigenetics;
2. Recognize opportunities for innovation and development applied to oncology based on epigenetic mechanisms;
3. Incorporate the knowledge of the Cancer Epigenetics in the interpretation of biological and clinical behavior of tumors.

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Recognizing Cancer as an epigenetic disease as well, not just genetics;
2. Understanding the need to clarify the contribution of epigenetic modification of the various mechanisms in the process of tumorigenesis;
3. Epigenetics as a face in the areas of research in oncology, in many respects;
4. Contextualize the knowledge acquired in medical practice and new therapeutic approaches.

 

Working method

Presencial

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

Not applicable

Program

• Epigenetic mechanisms and their contribution to gene expression regulation.


• Main epigenetic alterations involved in tumorigenesis.


• The role of DNA methylation in the regulation of transcription of genes involved in the neoplastic process (hypo and hypermethylation).


• Role of RNA methylation in the neoplastic process.


• Proteins regulating DNA methylation and its role in changing patterns.


• Effect of exogenous factors on the establishment of DNA methylation.


• Changes in chromatin organization in cancer cells.


• Histone post-translational modifications underlying the silencing of genes implicated in the neoplastic process.


• Chromatin remodeling machinery and enzymes


• Dysregulation of cancer in non-coding RNAs.


• Changes in epigenetic tumor cells starting: "The model of stem cell epigenetics in cancer."


• Epigenetic Changes in most frequent human cancers.


• Epigenetic markers in the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer, aberrant methylation of the promoter region of genes (methylome) and analysis of histone modification, analysis methods, potential clinical application.

Mandatory literature

Several; Epigenomics, Anne C. Ferguson-Smith, John M. Greally, Rob A. Martienssen , 2009. ISBN: 1402091869
Several; Epigenetic Biomarkers and Diagnosis, José Luis García-Giménez, 2015. ISBN: 3336055
Mukesh Verma; Cancer Epigenetics: Risk Assessment, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prognosis, Mukesh Verma, 2015. ISBN: 1064-3745

Comments from the literature

Review articles selected reference journals, New England Journal of Medicine, Nature Reviews in Cancer, Cancer Research, etc..

Original articles published in the month of completion of the module, for review and discussion.

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical sessions in the classroom and seminars.

Software

Plataforma de E-learning da Universidade do Porto
https://moodle.up.pt/

keywords

Natural sciences > Biological sciences
Health sciences > Medical sciences

Evaluation Type

Evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	10,00
Teste	90,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	46,50
Frequência das aulas	19,00
Total:	65,50

Eligibility for exams

Final exam composed by 30 multiple choice questions and two short-answer thematic questions (to be choosen between four proposals). 

Calculation formula of final grade

Students are approved if their exam classification is equal or exceeds 9.45 / 20.

Examinations or Special Assignments

Not applicable.

Internship work/project

Not applicable.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

To be established by the Pedagogical Council.

 

Classification improvement

Classification obtained in the examination of resource.

Improving classification will be held on the dates set by the Pedagogical Council.

 

Observations

FACULTY

• Coordinator:

Carmen Jerónimo, PhD, Invited Full Professor of ICBAS, Assistant Researcher and Scientific Coordinator of the Cancer Biology & Epigenetics Research Group of Cancer Research Center of Port IPO

Other Teachers:
- Margareta Correia, PhD; assistant researcher of Cancer Biology & Epigenetics Research Group of the Research Center of IPO-Porto
- Vera Miranda-Gonçalves, PhD; junior researcher of Cancer Biology & Epigenetics Research Group of the Research Center of IPO-Porto
- Members of the Cancer Biology & Epigenetics Research Group of Research Center of IPO-Porto