Oncobiology

Code:

M.BIO027

Acronym:

ONCO

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Medical Sciences

Instance: 2024/2025 - 1S (of 16-09-2024 to 14-02-2025)

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Molecular Pahology and Immunology
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Bioengineering

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
M.BIO	26	Syllabus	1	-	6	56	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

1. Understand the concept of neoplasia as an alteration of growth and cell/tissue differentiation


2. Understand the basis for classification and recognize the main types of human neoplasia


3. Realize the epidemiological profile of the main cancer types and its time trends


4. Recognize the main tumorigenic agents and its mechanism of action


5. Identify the main phases of neoplastic development and the agents involved in that process


6. Recognize the genetic, epigenetic and molecular basis of cancer


7. Recognize and understand the mains hereditary conditions associated with cancer


8. Integrate knowledge on genesis, biology and evolution of neoplasia using the most prevalent models of human cancer

Learning outcomes and competences

1. Acquire basic concepts about the classification e epidemiological characteristics of the main types of cancer


2. Identify the main morphological characteristics of the most common types of cancer


3. Recognize cancer as the result of the accumulation of genomic alterations, based on the constitution of the individual and the interaction with the environment


4. Understand the main mechanisms underlying the process of tumorigenesis and their contribution to the evolution of cancer


5. Identify the most common forms of hereditary predisposition for cancer


6. Understand the basic mechanisms of molecular targeted therapy of cancer


7. Integrate the general concepts of Oncobiology on the main models of human cancer


8. Identify therapeutical strategies based on the molecular characterization of cancer

Working method

Presencial

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

Basic knowledge in the areas of Histology and Molecular Genetics

Program

1. Neoplasia: basic concepts and classification; methods of study


2. Cancer Epidemiology: incidence, prevalence and time trends


3. Carcinogenic agents: chemical, physical and biological


4. Biology of the neoplastic cell: transformation, growth and progression; mechanisms of invasion, angiogenesis and metastization; neoplasia/stroma interactions; immunity and cancer


5. Cancer as a genomic disease


6. Molecular bases of cancer and mechanisms of deregulation of cancer-related genes: chromosomal and genetic alterations


7. Epigenetics and cancer: mechanisms of action and potential for the development cancer biomarkers


8. Hereditary predisposition for cancer: mechanisms and main syndromes


9. Key models of human cancer: integration of the concepts of Oncobiology in the study cancer, emphasizing epidemiological, clinical and therapeutical impact.

Mandatory literature

Kumar Vinay; Robbins and Cotran pathologic basis of disease. ISBN: 978-81-312-2491-5

Comments from the literature

Relevant papers for documental support of the themes will be made available through the Moodle platform.

Teaching methods and learning activities

1. Theoretical sessions: exposition and discussion of the main themes of the Curricular Unit, emphasizing the clinical relevance of the concepts and their present or future application. The interaction between students and teachers, through active discussion, is stimulated during these sessions.

2. Theoretical-practical sessions: consolidation of the main concepts of the theoretical sessions through contact with diagnostic and research laboratories. Presentation and discussion of the themes distributed to the students.

Software

Moodle Universidade do Porto

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 (%)
Exame	50,00
Participação presencial	50,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	6,00
Estudo autónomo	106,00
Frequência das aulas	50,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Attendance of, at the least, 75% of the practical sessions.

Exceptional situations according to the law will be, obviously, considered.

Calculation formula of final grade

Components of the evaluation

1.  “Theoretical evaluation” component (TEC): Final exam consisting of multiple choice questions and questions for thematic development, based on the theoretical-practical sessions, classified from 0 to 20. Students are approved in the TEC if their classification equals to or exceeds 9.50 / 20.

 

1.  “Practical evaluation” component (PEC): continuous evaluation of the practical sessions based on the presentation of themes. This classification is expressed from 0 to 20, and students are approved in the PEC if their classification equals to or exceeds 9.50 / 20.

 

Calculation of the final classification

Approval in the Curricular Unit of Oncobiology implies a classification equal to or exceeding 9.50 / 20 in both components of the evaluation (TEC and PEC).

A negative result in any of the components will lead to disapproval.

 

The final classification of the curricular unit (FCCU) is calculated according to the formula:

FCCU = 0.5 x TEC + 0.5 x PEC

Examinations or Special Assignments

No special evaluation events or assignments are foreseen.

Internship work/project

Not applicable

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

According to the Standards for Evaluation and Pedagogical Orientation of the University of Porto.

Should be performed according to the schedule approved by the Pedagogical Council

Classification improvement

Improvement of the classification in the TEC will be performed according to the schedule approved by the Pedagogical Council.

Improvement of the classification in the PEC is not foreseen according to regulations of University of Porto.

Observations

The classes take place at Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto