PSC3322 - Current aspects of cancer biology - 2018

6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

Undergraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Faculty

Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Chief examiner(s)

Dr John Haynes

Coordinator(s)

Dr John Haynes

Unit guides

Offered

Parkville

  • Second semester 2018 (On-campus)

Prerequisites

PSC2011 Biochemical Pharmacology

PSC2012 Molecular Pharmacology

Notes

This unit was previously coded as PSC3032 - Current aspects of pharmaceutical biology.

Synopsis

This unit will introduce students to cancer cell biology. The specific topics covered include The Nature of Cancer, Cellular Oncogenes & Tumor Suppressor Genes, Growth Factor Receptors and Cytoplasmic Signalling, Multistep Tumorigenesis, and Invasion & Metastasis.

Outcomes

At the end of this unit students will be able to discuss:

  1. What, in a cellular context, cancers represent;
  2. How cells usually prevent their own uncontrolled growth;
  3. Common signalling underlying tumor growth;

    Furthermore students should be able to use this knowledge to:

  4. Answer specific questions around the pathophysiology of cancer cell growth;
  5. Use sound scientific principles and inquiry-based approaches to design, undertake and analyse experiments that increase our knowledge of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying cancer cell growth

Assessment

Final exam (2 hour): 60%; Mid-semester test, practical work and learning exercises 40%.

Workload requirements

Contact hours for on-campus students:

  • Twenty four 1-hour lectures
  • One 2-hour workshop
  • Four 3-hour practical laboratories
  • Directed independent study

See also Unit timetable information

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at: