C7187 Experimental oncology

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2023
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 2 credit(s) (fasci plus compl plus > 4). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Pavel Bouchal, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. Roman Hrstka, Ph.D. (lecturer)
MUDr. Petr Müller, Ph.D. (lecturer)
MUDr. Pavel Fabian, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Eva Budinská, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Martin Bartošík, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Pavla Bouchalová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Pavel Bouchal, Ph.D.
Department of Biochemistry – Chemistry Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: doc. Mgr. Pavel Bouchal, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Biochemistry – Chemistry Section – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Wed 16:00–17:50 C05/114
Prerequisites
C4182 Biochemistry II || Bi4020 Molecular biology || Bi4010 Essential molecular biology
This course is suitable for students of master and doctoral studies in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Medical Genetics and Molecular Diagnostics. The knowledge at biochemisty and molecular biology basic courses level is required.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
At the end of the course, the students will understand the mechanisms of malign transformation, the biology and biochemistry of tumor cells as well as the mechanisms of cancer development and spreading. They should be able to apply genomics, epigenetics, proteomics and statistical approaches and to use the main database resources in experimental oncology. The students will understand principles of molecular cloning, the approaches used in production and purification of proteins and development of antibodies, the use of therapeutic antibodies and gene therapy. They will be able to correctly decide about the proper use of biological material such as model systems (cell lines, animal models), human tissues and plasma for various types of experiments and studies. They will also obtain basics of oncological pharmacology including drug discovery and testing.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the students will understand the mechanisms of malign transformation, the biology and biochemistry of tumor cells as well as the mechanisms of cancer development and spreading. They should be able to apply genomics, epigenetics, proteomics and statistical approaches and to use the main database resources in experimental oncology. The students will understand principles of molecular cloning, the approaches used in production and purification of proteins and development of antibodies, the use of therapeutic antibodies and gene therapy. They will be able to correctly decide about the proper use of biological material such as model systems (cell lines, animal models), human tissues and plasma for various types of experiments and studies. They will also obtain basics of oncological pharmacology including drug discovery and testing.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction, organization of the course (P. Bouchal). Physical, chemical and biological factors of carcinogenesis: Physical radiation, mechanisms of chemical carcinogens, tests of mutagenity, viral transformation. Morphological and biochemical changes in transformed cells, hypoxia. Mechanisms of cytostatic agents action, drug resistance.
  • 2. Introduction to tumor cell biology (R. Hrstka). Mechanisms of malign transformation. Angiogenesis, formation of metastases. Important signal pathways in tumors. Tumor epidemiology. p53 protein, potential use in the therapy focused on the cell cycle.
  • 3. Methods in molecular oncology (R. Hrstka). Human genome mapping, functional genomics. PCR based methods, chip based methods, next generation sequencing. Gene engineering. Model systems in applied research.
  • 4. The use of human biological material in research (P. Fabian). Human tissues as a source of information and a tool for validation of data obtained from experimental models. The use and processing of tissue samples. Predictive and prognostic pathology. Biological characteristics of tumors and their prognosis. Biological predictors of therapeutic response.
  • 5. Molecular pathology and personalized medicine (R. Hrstka). Clinically used biomarkers, laboratory techniques, co-alteration and dysregulation of signal pathways, decision making, preanalytical issues, biomarkers in clinical studies.
  • 6. Proteomics approaches in experimental oncology (P. Bouchal). Untargeted and targeted proteomics, protein/peptide quantification. Functional proteomics in oncology research, analysis of protein-protein interactions, biomarker discovery, verification and validation. Selection of suitable biological and tumor material and methods, design of the study, data validation and interpretation. Practical examples of proteomics outputs.
  • 7. Development of new methods for studing of nucleic acids (M. Bartošík). DNA hybridization and development of hybridization biosensors for DNA-based biomarker detection. Basics of epigenetics and detection of epigenetic changes (DNA methylation, microRNA) using biosensors. The use of nanomaterials, nanoparticles, quantum dots. Electrochemical biochips.
  • 8. Statistics (E. Budinská). How to achieve reproducibility and robustness of results. Design of the study and experiment, overview of statistical approaches for discovery of biomarkers and molecular signatures for tumor classification and diagnostics, validation of results. How to minimize false positive results.
  • 9. Database resources and algorithms in in experimental oncology (P. Bouchal). Practical use of the databases and algorithms: NCBI, ExPASy, UniProt, BLAST, prediction of secondary structure and posttranslational modification of proteins. Human Protein Atlas. Oncomine. Epidemiology of tumors in the Czech Republic (SVOD).
  • 10. Gene therapy (P. Müller). Diseases curable by gene therapy. Vectors for gene therapy. Perspectives of gene therapy. Viruses and their use in experimental oncology. Characterization and categories of viruses. Tumors and viruses. Adenovirus and lentivirus vectors. Viruses and gene therapy. Protein engineering (Dr. Müller). Protein-protein interactions, "phage display". Analysis of the activity. "Protein engineering". Protein and expression and purification.
  • 11. Design, production and characterization of antibodies (P. Müller). Immunization schemas, suitable animals and antigens. Production, purification, characterization and labeling of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. Application and humanization of antibodies.
  • 12. Drug development (P. Müller). Therapeutic substance, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. The models used for "drug screening". Databases of chemical substances versus natural products. Quantitative and structural analysis of the potential therapeutic substance. Rational drug development. Clinical studies.
Literature
    recommended literature
  • REJTHAR, Aleš and Bořivoj VOJTĚŠEK. Obecná patologie nádorového růstu. 1. vyd. Praha: Grada, 2002, 206 s. ISBN 802470238X. info
Teaching methods
Presentations by professionals followed by class discussion and answers to students' questions. Practical use of database sources.
Assessment methods
Written exam containing both test part and a part with questions that require written responses.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2010 - only for the accreditation, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2011 - acreditation, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2023, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/autumn2023/C7187