AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Module “Molecular Oncology/Immunology”

Molecular Oncology - Cancer represents a special type of pathology that can be potentially dangerous even when affecting only an individual cell. At a molecular (biochemical-interactions) level, fundamental cellular functions (proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, tissue architecture) are controlled by networks of signaling-proteins. Signaling-proteins networks decide when and in which way a cell will activate the above mentioned basic cellular functions. Special discrete sets of mutations / alterations, inheritable at the somatic level, from a parental to a daughter cell, can give origin to new progressively transformed cells, endowed with more permissive controls of these same functions. We want the student to learn the basic features of this pre-neoplastic and subsequently neoplastic transformation process. By about ten years, medicinal chemistry has started to discover selective inhibitors of altered signaling-proteins affected by excess of function (especially kinase inhibitors). We want the student to enter the world of possible selective corrections of altered pathways and altered signaling-network sub-regions.

Molecular Immunology - This course is aimed to provide a broad view of the current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms involved in the antigen-specific immune response and in innate immunity. Examples of translational applications of this basic knowledge to biotechnology approaches of therapy and diagnosis in neoplastic and immune-mediated diseases will be discussed.

Module “Endocrinology”

Elements of clinical and experimental endocrinology. Analytical methods for the evaluation of serum hormonal levels, principles of diagnosis of endocrinological diseases. 

TEACHING METHODS

Frontal lessons.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Molecular Oncology

- The multistep process of carcinogenesis.

- Dominant oncogenes.

- Repressor genes.

- Genomic landscapes of the most frequent mutations / somatically inheritable alterations, in different types of cancer.

- Molecular heterogeneities in a given cancer, their implications.

- Cancer implies a multiplicity of alterations at the level of pathways and signaling-network sub-regions.

- Normal and altered signaling-network sub-regions can be reconstructed through Molecular Interaction Maps (MIMs), at the level of biochemical interactions, and simulated through dynamic mathematical modeling.

- These modelings can help to understand the role of selective inhibitors of altered signaling-proteins, affected by excess of function.

- How can we implement rational associations of signaling-proteins inhibitors?    

Molecular Immunology

-General features of the immune response

-Ontogeny of the immune system

-Immunoglobulin structure and functions

-B cell ontogeny and generation of the immunoglobulin repertoire

-Conventional and recombinant monoclonal antibodies (chimeric, humanized and derived from phage display libraries) and their applications to diagnosis and therapy

-The major histocompatibility complex and the molecular basis of antigen processing and presentation to T cells

-The T-cell receptor for antigen and molecular mechanisms of signal transduction

-Polarization of the immune response

-Molecular mechanisms of the innate immune response

-Feed-back and regulatory mechanisms of the immune response and tolerance

-Cytokines as soluble mediators and regulators of the immune response

-Structure and function of cytokine receptors and mechanisms of signal transduction

-The immune response against tumors and mechanisms of immune escape

-Cancer immunotherapy

-Pathogenic mechanisms of autoimmunity and allergy

-Therapeutic applications of cytokines or their antagonists

Endocrinology

Study of endocrine organs in terms of anatomical and functional (pathophysiology). In particular: anatomy and pathophysiology of the hypothalamic-pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, gonadal and adrenal glands; mechanisms of hormone secretion, mechanisms of feed-back; rhythms of hormone secretion; theoretical principles of the various types of hormonal assays.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Molecular Oncology: In ambito Oncologia Molecolare non uso testi, che divengono rapidamente obsoleti, ma aggiornati review articles di riferimento, e miei aggiornati ppt, che fornisco agli studenti all'inizio del corso (passando da un mio pc portatile alle loro penne elettroniche).

Molecular Immunology: Gli studenti potranno avvalersi delle diapositive rilasciate al termine di ogni lezione quali strumenti di apprendimento. Verranno anche indicate recenti reviews su cui completare l’apprendimento. Nel caso lo studente desideri avere come base anche un libro di testo si suggerisce di utilizzare: P.Parham, Il sistema Immunitario, EdiSes;

AK Abbas, AH Lichtmann, Le basi dell’Immunologia, ELSEVIER.

Endocrinology: UNIENDO-Endocrinologia Clinica.  Autori: Lenzi, Lombardi, Martino, Vigneri. Editore: Minerva Medica.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

MARICA ARVIGO (President)

SILVANO FERRINI (President)

MARINA FABBI

DIEGO FERONE

ROSARIA GANGEMI

LESSONS

LESSONS START

October 3, 2016.

Class schedule

MOLECULAR ONCOLOGY/IMMUNOLOGY AND ENDOCRINOLOGY

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

"Molecular Oncology": Students are encouraged to discuss issues and ask questions during office hours. Take advantage of this opportunity often enough. The fairly limited number of examinees for each of them allows an interactive interview of about 45 'min. three major topics of the course are touched. He asks the examinee to pretend to explain a topic to a student of biotechnology / biology that has a reasonable degree of preparation in the field of biology and molecular biology, but has not yet met the world of molecular oncology. This role of the learner becomes the teacher, forces an introductory exhibition, which inspired them to better integrate together the complex facets of the discipline.

"Molecular Immunology": The number of students allows conducting an interview of individual examination that focuses on at least three topics covered in the lectures.

"Endocrinology": The preparation of the student will be assessed by a substantial oral exam questions on the topic of the course. During the test it will also be tested the link capacity, synthesis and critical interpretation.

Exam schedule