Knowledge and understanding: Gain advanced knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying tumorigenesis and tumor progression and understanding of the experimental strategies and approaches that have enabled their discovery.
Applied knowledge and understanding: Acquisition of the conceptual tools necessary for critical consultation of the scientific literature. From the hypothesis to the experimental design. Knowledge of bioinformatics tools available for oncology research.
Making judgements: Ability to critically understand the scientific literature to evaluate the impact of scientific results.
Communications skills: Ability to set up a public presentation using power point and critical discussion of scientific work.
Learning skills: Knowledge of the criteria for independently setting up a research project and stages of writing scientific work.

Students should have basic knowledge on cell structure and organization, principles of cell signaling and mechanisms controlling cell proliferation.

Introduction, historical and social perspectives. Cancer as genome disease:
Intrinsic tumor suppressive responses. Oncogenes and oncosupressors.
Alterations of cellular metabolism in cancer. Interconnections between cellular metabolism and cellular signaling pathways. The tumore as an ecosystem and the role of the tumor microenvironment. The metastatic cascade. Precision medicine and molecular targeted therapy. Bioinformatic tools for cancer research and introduction to public databases

Robert A. Weinberg. The Biology of Cancer. Ed. Taylor & Francis Inc 2nd edition 2013. Laureen Pecorino. Molecular Biology of Cancer 4th edition Oxford University press. Students will have access to the slides of the lectures and other teaching material including scientific articles and reviews.

1. Introduction, historical and social perspectives. The hallmarks of cancer.
2. Cancer as genome disease: cancer genes: oncogenes, tumor suppressors, gene mutations and epigenetic alterations.
3. Acquisition of independence from cell proliferation and immortalization signals. The cell cycle. Responses to growth factors: receptors, relevant signaling pathways in cancer. Examples of oncogenic mutations. Examples of the role of ncRNA in cancer Therapeutic implications.
4. Genomic instability in tumors. The tumor development model induced by DNA damage caused by oncogenes. Therapeutic implications of genomic instability of tumors. The concept of synthetic lethality.
5. Intrinsic tumor suppressive responses. The path regulated by the oncosuppressor p53. The role of p53 mutations in cancer. Mechanisms of escape from apoptosis in cancer.
6. Oncogenic viruses and their role in understanding the mechanisms of inactivation of tumor suppressors; viruses that cause transformation in animals and humans, direct and indirect carcinogenesis. Small DNA oncogenic viruses: conserved mechanisms of viral transformation.
7. Alterations of cellular metabolism in cancer. The Warburg effect and aerobic glycolysis. Interconnections between cellular metabolism and cellular signaling pathways. Metabolic gene mutations and the concept of "oncometabolite".
8. The role of the tumor microenvironment in neoplastic progression. Cell types of the tumor microenvironment. Role of the extracellular matrix and mechanotransduction in neoplastic progression.
9. The metastatic cascade. The phases of invasion, dissemination, dormancy and metastatic colonization. The pre-metastatic niche.
10. Precision medicine. Molecular target therapies. New targets of anti-cancer therapies: cellular metabolism, mechanisms of resistance to treatments.
11. Bioinformatic tools for cancer research. Genetic variations, basic applications of genomics, types of analysis with low and high processivity, examples of applications. Introduction to public databases.

Oral lectures. Seminars of expert scientists.

The slides of the lectures will be available together with other teaching material including scientific articles, reviews and bioinformatic websites. During the course students will be invited to present some scientific articles as journal club using a power point presentation.

The examination will be oral. Presentation, using power point, of a specific topic chosen by the candidate may be required and in this case the candidate will use scientific articles published in peer reviewed journals as reference. The student must demonstrate an understanding of both the biological aspect and the methodological and technological approach of the work to be discussed and should also be able to make connections with topics covered in the course of study. The score will be expressed in thirtieths and the minimum score will be 18/30 and will be awarded to the student who has sufficient knowledge of the subject being discussed and the main concepts and topics discussed in the course of study. A score of 30/30 and possibly honors will be awarded to the student who demonstrates an excellent and critical knowledge of the work and is able to make clear and articulate connections to the topics covered in the course as well.
Any changes to the modalities described herein, which may be necessary to ensure the implementation of the COVID-19 emergency-related safety protocols, will be communicated in the Department, Course of Study, and teaching website.