I. ASCRC General Education Form
Group
Natural Sciences
Dept/Program
BMED
Course Title
Prerequisite
Course #
U BMED 145N
Introduction to Cancer Biology
None
Credits
3
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Date
Mark Pershouse
X4769/
mark.pershouse@umontana
.edu
Program Chair
Richard Bridges
Dean
Dave Forbes
III. Description and purpose of the course: General Education courses must be introductory
and foundational. They must emphasize breadth, context, and connectedness; and relate course
content to students’ future lives: See Preamble:
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/gened/GEPreamble_final.htm
Instructor
Phone / Email
This course systematically develops a sound foundation for students to understand the
mechanisms, nomenclature, history, treatment options, and types of data associated
with cancer biology. Basic principles of normal and aberrant cell growth will be
discussed. Common elements of cancer causing agents will be discussed. Modern
treatment protocols will be addressed. After completing this course, students will be
expected to understand basic concepts of genetics, control of cell and tissue growth,
and mechanisms of tumor formation.
IV. Criteria: Briefly explain how this course meets the criteria for the group. See:
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/ASCRCx/Adocuments/GE_Criteria5-1-08.htm
This course explores the discipline of cellular
growth control, one of the most important
concepts within the natural sciences. Cellular
growth control is a key factor in normal
embryonic development, wound healing, aging,
homeostasis, and cancer formation. The
scientific method is explored through numerous
examples (e.g. correlation of pathological
grading criteria with patient outcomes) and
historical events. For example, our
understanding of how cancer arises has evolved
through constant revision of hypotheses, as
technology, medical advances have arisen to
provide new data.
This course addresses the concept of analytical
uncertainty and a rigorous scientific process
through lectures that address the historical
progression and advances from Medieval
Medicine to modern therapeutic modalities.
One example is our study of the first report of
an occupationally related cancer, scrotal cancer
in chimney sweeps in the 1800’s, to a modern
understanding of the actual chemical, benzo-apyrene, in soot, that causes the cancer and the
mechanism by which it causes cancer.
This course does not have a lab component yet,
but centers on laboratory investigations from
history that have advanced our knowledge of
cancer biology. The students will be challenged
in a didactic lecture setting to “think ahead” to
formulate the next set of logical experiments
and hypotheses.
V. Student Learning Goals: Briefly explain how this course will meet the applicable learning
goals. See: http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/ASCRCx/Adocuments/GE_Criteria5-1-08.htm
This course will meet the learning goals of
understanding the general principles associated
with cancer biology by challenging the students
to review historical data, technological
advances, seminal concepts in how a cell
become a cancer cell, and how we target that
cancer cell for destruction.
This course will meet the learning goal of
understanding the methodology and activities
scientists use to gather, validate and interpret
data related to natural processes. We will
discuss the progression of our understanding of
cancer as new technological innovations such as
autopsies, microscopy, and modern genetics led
a better understanding of the natural processes
involved in tumor formation. The course will
instruct students in methods for pattern
recognition, data analysis, hypothesis
development, and testing by use of historical
examples, current testing paradigms, and study
of the seminal experiments that lead to cancer
biology advances. This course will aid the
students in a better understanding of scientific
laws and theories through a similar mechanism.
Quantitative measurement, logical/ critical
reasoning will be explored as they apply to
definitively answering the questions posed in a
hypothesis. The class will distinguish
descriptive results and quantitative results in
science. Intro to Cancer Biology will help the
students understand analytic uncertainty through
units on epidemiology, predictions of the
number of mutations necessary to create a
malignant cancer cell by Foulds, et al., and other
example in the resource materials that address
statistical predictions.
VII. Syllabus: Paste syllabus below or attach and send digital copy with form. ⇓ The syllabus
should clearly describe how the above criteria are satisfied. For assistance on syllabus
preparation see: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/syllabus.html
Cancer Biology BMED 145N
3 credits
Summer 2009
Syllabus Coordinator:
Mark Pershouse
Room
SB 281
Phone
4769
Additional Instructors:
Elizabeth Putnam
Howard Beall
Curtis Noonan
SB 280
SB 159
SB 173D
4794
5112
4957
Patrick Beatty
Kathy Markette
Montana Cancer Center
Montana Cancer Center
Recommended Texts: Principles of Cancer Biology: Lewis J. Kleinsmith author Pearson,
Benjamin Cummings Publishers
Prerequisites: None
Purpose of Course: This course systematically develops a sound foundation for students to
understand the mechanisms, nomenclature, history, treatment options, and types of data
associated with cancer biology. Basic principles of normal and aberrant cell growth will be
discussed. Common elements of cancer causing agents will be discussed. Modern treatment
protocols will be addressed. After completing this course, students will be expected to
understand basic concepts of genetics, control of cell and tissue growth, and mechanisms of
tumor formation.
Description:
This course will provide an overview for undergraduate students interested in an introductory
course in cancer biology, treatment, and prevention. Lectures will be supplemented with
readings from the current literature.
Meeting Time: 1-3 pm
Assessment: Grades will be determined from a mid-term (40%), homework assignments
(10%) final exam (40%) and student participation (10%).
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Instructor
Pershouse
Noonan
Pershouse
Unit 4
Unit 5
Unit 6
Unit 7
Pershouse
Pershouse
Pershouse
Faculty
Topic
Introduction and History of Cancer Research
Cancer Epidemiology
Diet and Cancer/Prevention/DNA Damage and
Repair/Carcinogens
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis
Cell Cycle/Tumor Kinetics
Pathology of Cancer
Midterm Exam
Unit 8
Unit 9
Pershouse
Pershouse
Unit 10
Unit 11
Unit 12
Unit 13
Putnam
Putnam
Beall
Beatty
Unit 14
Unit 15
Markette
Faculty
Tumor Suppressor Genes/ Oncogenes
Senescence Genes/Differentiation Genes/Apoptosis Genes
Affected in Neoplasia
Predisposition I/ Familial Cancer Syndromes
Predisposition II/ Non-familial Cancer Syndromes
Cancer Therapeutics 1 (Overview, Targets)
Cancer Therapeutics 2 (Chemotherapy, Bone Marrow
Transplants, Surgery)
Cancer Therapeutics 3 (Radiotherapy)
Final Exam
*Please note: As an instructor of a general education course, you will be expected to provide
sample assessment items and corresponding responses to the Assessment Advisory Committee.