509943 - DEGENERATIVE & CANCER

insegnamento

ID:

509943

Durata (ore):

52

CFU:

SSD:

PATOLOGIA GENERALE

Anno:

2025

Periodo di attività

Secondo Semestre (02/03/2026 - 12/06/2026)

Obiettivi Formativi

Immunity The aim of the Immunity module is to introduce students to the complexity of the immune response with examples from recent literature on the power of molecular medicine and how humanity can make use of it for biotechnological applications. At the end of the module students, should have received the stimuli to use their intellect and be inspired by the creativity and proficiency of modern scientists and science. General Pathology The aim of the General Pathology module is to give the students a unifying framework for concepts related to cell injury, inflammation, regeneration, repair and degenerative diseases with emphasis on the role the immune system plays in these conditions. Cancer Biology The aim of the module is to introduce students to cancer disease focusing on causes, mechanisms, and molecular targets. The module will allow the student to obtain a comprehensive knowledge about: tumor classification (grading, staging, molecular analysis); principles of cancer epidemiology; biological and molecular mechanisms of physical, chemical and biological carcinogenesis; interactions of tumor cells with the microenvironment and the immune system; tumor progression, evolution and metastatic spread. At the end of the course students will be able to analyze the vast complexity of cancer disease field in a critical light with the awareness of the hallmarks of cancer.

Prerequisiti

Appraisal of the topics covered in the Immunity module requires a basic knowledge in immunology and a general acquaintance on how the immune system is organized and works; this is expected or should be acquired from autonomous study. The intellectual drive necessary to be exposed to and appreciate biotechnological applications in the realm of immunity is expected from the students of this Master. Understanding the topics covered in the Cancer module requires a knowledge of the animal eukaryotic cell biology, the main biochemical processes and macromolecules involved, the main human anatomical districts and physiological functions.

Metodi didattici

Lectures, laboratory tutorial, self-assessment test, multimedia tools, discussion of recent publications related to lecture topics.

Verifica Apprendimento

The learning test will take place in written form and will be included in the Degenerative and Cancer exam.

Testi

Immunity and the General Pathology modules Suggested books for autonomous study: Punt J, Stranford SA, Jones PP & Owen JA. Kuby Immunology (8th Ed). 2019 New York: Macmillan Learning Murphy KM, Weaver C & Berg LJ. Janeway's Immunobiology (10th Ed). 2022 WW Norton & Company Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease. V Kumar, AK Abbas, JC Aster (eds). Saunders. 10th ed. (2020) The slides of the lectures, the research articles discussed in class and any other material pertaining to the module will be made available to the students in Kiro. Cancer Biology module Lauren Pecorino. Molecular Biology of Cancer. Mechanisms, Targets, and Therapeutics. 5th edition-2021. Oxford University Press. Francesco Pezzella, Mahvash Tavassoli, David J. Kerr. Oxford Textbook of Cancer Biology. 1st edition-2019-Oxford University Press. Vincent T. DeVita Jr., Theodore S. Lawrence, Sreven A. Rosenberg. DeVita, Hellman, and Rosenberg’s Cancer Principles & Practice of Oncology, Primer of the Molecular Biology of Cancer. 3rd edition-2021-Wolters Kluwer. The slides of the lectures, the suggested research articles and the e-book “ Lollini: Cellular & Molecular Oncology” will be available in Kiro site.

Contenuti

Immunity module (2 CFU) Introduction to the Immunology Course Structure and Concepts in Immunology. Innate Immunity. PAMPs, DAMPs and the Molecular Beauty of Toll Like Receptors. Links Between Innate and Adaptive Immunity. The IgM Case (natural antibodies), Complement and Cell Bridges. B and T Cell Development. Adaptive Immunity. Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies (extreme examples of adaptive immunity and source for passive immunotherapy drugs and vaccine development). The Cytokine Network: The CCL5:CCR5 Axis, Key in Infection and Inflammation. Aberrant Immune Reactions. Allergy, Immunodeficiencies, Transplantation, Graft versus host disease & Autoimmune Diseases. The IgE system from allergy to cancer. Features of IgE system, its potency and regulation, and discussion altogether in class on why mammals developed this antibody isotype in the course of evolution. The huge potential of turning a powerful foe into a good friend (IgE against cancer). General Pathology module (2 CFU) Concepts & History Cell Injury Autophagy Cell Death Inflammation: phases, mediators, and patterns of inflammation; acute, systemic and chronic inflammation; inflammation and cancer; histopathological analysis of inflammation; resolution, regeneration and repair. Atherosclerosis Thrombosis Cancer BIOLOGY MODULE (1 CFU): 1) Terminology and classification. Hallmarks of cancer. 2) Causes of cancer. Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity. The transformed cell phenotype. Driver and passenger mutations. Proto oncogene families (EGFR, HER2, myc, ras, abl, braf) and mechanisms of de-regulation in human cancer. Tumour suppressor genes (TP53, pRb, APC, BRCA and BRCAness) and mechanisms of inactivation. Target therapy: new challenges. 3) Tumor evolution. The major steps of the metastasis process. Pre-clinical models to study cancer progression (in vitro, in vivo and in silico). Tumour angiogenesis. Tumour vasculature. 4) Cancer Immunity. The concept of immune surveillance. Immunoediting. Tumor antigens.

Lingua Insegnamento

INGLESE

Altre informazioni

Students can contact the teachers by e-mail to ask for clarification on the content of the lectures and on the study material or to request an appointment. The teachers will provide the learning test correction and will be always available for any clarifications. luca.vangelista@unipv.it arianna.palladini@unipv.it hugo.dejonge@unipv.it