BIOS9710 – Advanced Cancer Biology
Course description
Course content
The course aims to provide students with a comprehensive insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer development and into cancer treatment. Among the topics covered are tumor viruses, oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, multistep tumorigenesis, cancer stem cells, tumor heterogeneity, cancer invasion, metastasis, precision medicine and drug development. The course will give an introduction to and discuss the major clinical challenges in the treatment of the four most common cancer types - breast, colorectal, prostate and lung cancer - as well as haematological cancers and sarcomas. The lectures will be given by scientists and practicing clinicians at the Institute for Cancer Research/Oslo University Hospital.
Learning outcome
After completing the course the student should:
- Understand central aspects of the molecular mechanisms that are involved in cancer pathogenesis.
- Be able to describe the fundamental principles of cancer diagnosis and prevention
- Know the basic principles of personalized medicine and therapeutic cancer management
- Have knowledge of advanced methodologies used in cancer research
- Be aware of the advantages and limitations of using model organisms in cancer research
- Be able to present a given topic within the cancer research field through a short written essay and an oral presentation.
Admission to the course
PhD candidates from the University of Oslo should apply for classes and register for examinations through Studentweb.
If a course has limited intake capacity, priority will be given to PhD candidates who follow an individual education plan where this particular course is included. Some national researchers’ schools may have specific rules for ranking applicants for courses with limited intake capacity.
PhD candidates who have been admitted to another higher education institution must apply for a position as a visiting student within a given deadline.
The courses BIOS5710 and BIOS9710 have common admission. Applicants are ranked by the following criteria:
- PhD candidates and master students at the MN faculty who have the course as part of the approved.
- Other PhD candidates and visiting PhD candidates.
- Students with admission to single courses on master’s level and exchange students.
- Applicants are ranked by credits in each group; all applicants within 1st rank before applicants in 2nd etc. ?If admission is limited to a fixed number of participants, admission will be decided by drawing lots for students who are ranked equally.
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Admission to a PhD program.
Recommended previous knowledge
A Master degree in molecular biology/cell biology/biochemistry/physiology or equivalent background.
BIOS3700 – Cell Biology 2 or corresponding knowledge.
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with MBV4160 – Advanced Cancer Biology (continued).
- 10 credits overlap with BIOS5710 – Advanced Cancer Biology.
- 10 credits overlap with MBV9160 – Advanced Cancer Biology (continued).
Teaching
- The lectures will be delivered over a period of nine weeks.
- The course involves a mandatory essay assignment. For this essay, the students can choose between four different topics, which will be presented by the course organizers on the first course day.?
- The course also involves group work.?The group work provides a valuable opportunity for the students to work on important topics in the syllabus together with their fellow students.
Examination
The exam will consist of three parts:
- An oral presentation held during the last week of the course, where the students will present a relevant review article.
Preparation of a written essay (to be chosen from a short list of assigned topics).
Final written exam which counts 100 % towards the final?grade.?
Both the oral presentation and the written essay must be approved before the date of the written exam.
It will also be counted as one of the three attempts to sit the exam for this course, if you sit the exam for one of the following courses:?BIOS5710 – Advanced Cancer Biology MBV4160 – Advanced Cancer Biology (continued) MBV9160 – Advanced Cancer Biology (continued).
Examination support material
No examination support material is allowed.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English. You may submit your response in English or Norwegian.
Grading scale
?Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
This course offers both postponed and resit of examination. Read more:
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.