BIO 381
Molecular and Cellular Biology of Cancer
Spring 2012
Syllabus
Course Description:
This course examines the molecular, cellular and genetic mechanisms that lead to cancer
formation. In particular, the regulation of signal transduction pathways, cell cycle entry and
progression, cellular metabolism and programmed cell death will be explored in detail.
Prerequisites:
Biology 252/254 (Genetics) or equivalent, and Biology 210/212 (Cell Biology) or
equivalent.
Students taking this course should have a clear understanding of basic molecular
biological processes such as recombination, transcription, mRNA splicing/processing,
translation, and signal transduction. Practical laboratory experience is helpful but not
assumed or required.
Location and Time:
Tuesday and Thursday, 12:30-1:45
Location to be announced.
Instructor:
Glover Martin, Ph.D.
Instructor, UMB Dept. of Biology
glover.martin@umb.edu
Office: Wheatley 3-017
Office hours: TBD, and by appointment
Required reading:
1. The Biology of Cancer by Robert A. Weinberg.
2. Textbook readings will be supplemented with current primary literature, particularly for
the purpose of in-class discussion.
Course objectives:
Students in this course will…
1.
2.
3.
4.
Acquire an historical perspective on the set of related diseases which are referred to as
“cancer.”
Gain an understanding of the sequence of events which can take a cell from normal to
neoplastic.
Be introduced to the molecular mechanisms responsible for controlling cell division.
Gain an appreciation for the evolution of cancer detection and treatment as well as the
current state of the art in these areas.
In order to achieve these course objectives, students will…




Attend lectures and read the assigned materials.
Be prepared to discuss the reading assignments and lecture topics.
Take two in-class exams.
Write and orally present a literature review.
Evaluation (grading):
Class discussion/participation - 15%

While the course is primarily lecture-based, it is also intended to be interactive. Students
are encouraged to be active learners by asking and answering questions that arise about
the subject matter. In addition, three research papers, selected to highlight current
research and experimental methods, will be assigned over the course of the semester.
Students are expected to participate in the description of the content of these papers and
their significance.
Exams (two, in-class) – 50%


Are intended to test student understanding of key concepts, ideas and their application.
Success here will necessitate the commitment of certain facts to memory, but
memorization will not be the main objective.
Will consist primarily of open response questions, but may also contain some multiple
choice, matching, or very short answer questions.
Proposal/review with presentation – 35%

Students will be required to identify a topic of their interest that is also relevant to the
course subject matter. Students will choose 5-7 primary papers that describe key studies
in the topic during its history/development. They will write a literature survey of the
topic, which introduces the topic and its significance. Students will also consider and
describe open questions that remain or future avenues of research in the research area.
The final written document should be 8-12 pages in length and will be presented
(including slides) to the class. This assignment may be completed by students in small
groups of 2-3.
Accommodations:
The University of Massachusetts Boston is committed to providing reasonable academic
accommodations for all students with disabilities. This syllabus is available in alternate format
upon request. If you have a disability and feel you will need accommodations in this course,
please contact the Ross Center for Disability Services, Campus Center, Upper Level, Room 211 at
617.287.7430. http://www.umb.edu/academics/vpass/disability/ After registration with the
Ross Center, a student should present and discuss the accommodations with the professor.
Although a student can request accommodations at any time, we recommend that students
inform the professor of the need for accommodations by the end of the Drop/Add period to
ensure that accommodations are available for the entirety of the course.
Code of Conduct and Academic Integrity:
It is the expressed policy of the University that every aspect of academic life--not only formal
coursework situations, but all relationships and interactions connected to the educational
process--shall be conducted in an absolutely and uncompromisingly honest manner. The
University presupposes that any submission of work for academic credit is the student’s own and
is in compliance with University policies, including its policies on appropriate citation and
plagiarism. These policies are spelled out in the Code of Student Conduct. Students are required
to adhere to the Code of Student Conduct, including requirements for academic honesty, as
delineated in the University of Massachusetts Boston Graduate Catalogue and relevant program
student handbook(s) http://www.umb.edu/life_on_campus/policies/code.
BIO 381: Molecular and Cellular Biology of Cancer
Spring 2012
Month
Day
Week #
Topic
January
23
1
Introduction:
cancer?
30
2
Is
cancer
contagious?
Tumor viruses
3
6
3
Genes that cause cancer
4
13
4
Signals gone awry: regulation
5
of cell growth
20
5
Genes that prevent cancer:
7
tumor suppressors
27
6
The cell cycle
7, 8
5
7
pRb and p53
EXAM I
8, 9
February
March
12
April
BoC Chapter
what
is
1, 2
SPRING BREAK
19
8
To live, and not have to die:
10
immortalization
26
9
To neoplasia: step-bystep
11
2
10
Keeping the genome intact:
DNA repair
12
9
11
Feeding
the
angiogenesis
13, 14
16
12
Benign
vs.
metastasis
monster:
malignant:
14
May
23
13
30
14
7
15
Finals wk
Keeping us safe: the role of
15
immune surveillance
Immunotherapy
and
the
15, 16
future of cancer treatment
Final presentations, I
Final presentations, II
EXAM II