Goals of the Course: This is a 3 credit course upper level Biochemistry elective. The goals of this course are to introduce the student to the basic concepts of the mechanisms of carcinogenesis and to begin applying these concepts to research problems.

Course Organization: This course meets two times a week in Lipman 016. During this period, some classes will be replaced with seminars being presented on Cook or Busch that relate to the topics being discussed.

Student Requirements: There are no exams in this course. Grades are based on the writing assignments and participation in class discussions. Students are expected to come to class prepared for the class. Cell phones and beepers must be turned off during class. Late papers will not be accepted unless the student makes prior arrangements with me.

Recommended Book: Molecular Biology of Cancer MacDonald, F., Ford, C.H.J., Casson, A.G. (2004).

Student performance in this course will be evaluated based on
Class participation/assignments (25%)
Individual presentation (25%)
Group project (20%)
Final report (30%)

*grade for course participation will be based not entirely on the amount you participate, but also on the quality of your in class participation.

Topics to be covered will include:
DNA Damage/Repair Mechanisms;Oncogenes/Tumor Suppressor genes; Signaling Pathways; Apoptosis/Cell Death; The Cell Cycle
Metastasis-cell cell contact and protease activation
Tumor Growth and angiogenesis
Genetic Events (telomerases, methylation and histone acetylation)
Genetic Polymorphisms
Chemical Carcinogenesis
Chemotheraputic targeting
Assignments:

1. Attend four seminars related to cancer biochemistry throughout the semester. Five relevant seminars are listed on the schedule. However, it is understood that these times may not work into everyone’s schedule. If you cannot make these times, you can substitute with seminars in other departments that are suitable (please see me first). For each seminar attended, the student must pass in a short (>1 page typed) description of the seminar including the topic of the seminar and the overall conclusions.

2. For the first part of the class, review papers/book chapters will be assigned with specific questions to be addressed. The student should come prepared with these questions answered for class discussion.

3. Group assignment. Projects will be assigned to groups of four students. These group assignments will result in a short paper (3-5 pgs) from each student in the group and a short group powerpoint presentation. The groups will be assigned based on organ system. Within each group there will be four specific topics: (1) Environmental influences (2) Genetic predisposition (3) Biochemical Pathways (4) Current chemotherapies (biochemical/genetic targeting). Groups will be assigned by the end of the second week of class.

4. Individual presentations of current research papers. Following the midterm presentations, students will present a current research paper on their topic. In these presentations, the focus will be on the research methods and conclusions. Although not required, it is acceptable for the student to use papers related to their midterm assignment. Two students will go each class period.

5. Final paper (Grant Proposal). The final assignment will be to write a grant proposal focusing on the topics that we have covered in class. A detailed description of the format and expectations will be given to students following the midterm assignments.

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