INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS
BISC 625 Cancer Biology
Prerequisites: BISC401 and its prerequisites. One semester of organic chemistry. Physiology helpful.
Instructors: Dr. Carlton R. Cooper and Dr. Robert A. Sikes
Office hours: By Appointment only.
Textbook:
The Biology of Cancer, by Robert A. Weinberg, Garland Science, 2007.
Primary literature: Bi-Weekly, as assigned by Professors.
Location/Time: Memorial 112, 2:30-4pm
WebCT:
The syllabus and lectures will be posted using UD’s WebCT Every attempt will be made to
post lectures the day before class. This is not always possible.
Goals/Objectives: The course will provide coverage of basic through advanced concepts of Cancer
Biology through the use of lectures supported by primary literature and grounded by a basic textbook on
Cancer. The course design is intended to develop a sufficient coverage/understanding of topics in cancer
biology to allow for independent interpretation of the literature and rationale design of forward thinking
research proposals in this area.
Schedule: The schedule of lectures contains the major topics to be considered, however the dates may
change. Reading assignments are included. Staying ahead in the reading will greatly facilitate
comprehension of the material. This course relies upon scientific nomenclature (terms) peculiar to many
disciplines since the study of Cancer Biology draws upon Chemistry, Developmental Biology, Virology
and Molecular Cell Biology.
Exams and Grading: BISC 625 students will be required to submit two Department of Defense (DoD)
style grants (10 page proposals) per semester on topics chosen by the students. Students will convene
peer-review panels to score grants. Review criteria will be supplied for review as well as examples of
previously funded and not-funded grants (if possible). Drs. Sikes and Cooper will serve as review panel
Administrators. Standard DoD grant review procedures will be supplied.
Students will be required to analyze, summarize and present primary literature on cancer in a group
presentation format.
Exam questions will be posted on WebCT at midnight the night before the exam. Seven questions will be
posted and 5 or our choosing will be used for the in class examination. Exams are essay style and thought
questions. Final letter grades will be assigned at the end of the semester based on class averages. Grants
will constitute 40% of the grade, exams will be 40% of the grade, and presentations (Including group
discussion and peer evaluation) will represent 20% of the grade.
Policy: The due dates for the grant submissions are firm! Plan ahead accordingly. You will lose 10% of
the final grade for every day past due. The only acceptable excuses include documented protracted serious
illness (head colds, for example, are not an adequate excuse), death of a close family member
(documented), or protracted absence from the University on Official University business. Short-term
illness should be documented by student health and students should communicate the condition via e-mail
as soon as possible. Make-up exams must be taken within 7 days after the original exam date without
documentations as indicated above. All other make-ups will be scheduled on reading day. Short-term
illness is an unacceptable reason for missing the grant submission deadlines. If your excuse is not
accepted, you will receive a 0 for that assignment. If you hold an outside job but have registered for the
course, it is assumed you can attend all scheduled sessions for the course and complete all assignments.
Syllabus for Cancer Biology for Spring 2010 (M-W)
Feb 8 M (RAS,CRC)
NO Class Due to Weather
Feb 10 W (RAS,CRC)
Introduction & Perspective on Cancer
Feb 15 M (CRC)
Grant review process and words from Chris Williamson (soon to be
M.D.) enrolled in first cancer biology class.
Feb 17 W (BB)
Pathology (Stage & Grade: Not just something in a bicycle race
Feb 22 M (BB)
Cancer Genetics (Dr. Bruce Boman, Director of Cancer Genetics & Stem
Cell Biology Program, Helen F. Graham Cancer Center,
Professor of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University)
Feb 24 W (BR)
Cancer Stem Cell Biology
Mar 1 M (RAS)
Ben Rohe, M.S. Literature –Molecular protocols in Cancer Biology
Mar 3W (RAS)
Mar 8 M (RAS)
Carcinogenesis, Pt I
Carcinogenesis, Pt II
Mar 10 W (CRC)
Proto-oncogene/Oncogenes
Ch 4
Mar 15M (CRC)
Tumor virus/Tumor suppressors
Ch 7
Mar 17W
Exam 1
Mar 22M (RAS)
Literature (gradúate students)
Mar 24W (CRC)
Cancer from a patient’s view
Mar 26
Grant 1 Due (5pm)
Mar 29-Apr 5
Ch 1
Ch2
Ch10 & 11
Ch 7
Spring Break
Apr 5M (CRC)
RhoGTPases in Cancer (Dr. Ken L. van Golen)
Apr 7 W
Grant 1 Peer-Review
Apr 12M (CRC)
Angiogenesis
Ch 13
Apr 14W (CRC)
Metastasis: Sowing the Seeds
Ch 14
Apr 19 M
Literature
Apr 21 W (RAS)
Biomarkers and Imaging Metastasis: Sowing the Seeds
Apr 26M (AR)
Nanotechnology and Cancer (Dr. Anja Nohe, Ph.D.)
Apr 28 W (RAS)
Urogenital Cancers and Surgical Invention (Dr. David J. Cozzolino,
Physician, Brandywine Urology Consultant)
May 3M
Literature
May 5W (RC)
Alternative symptom management (Ron Carter, LMT, Owner of the
Massage Center)
May 10 M (CRC)
Alternative Cancer Prevention and Therapy (Dr. F. James Weston, N.D.,
Ph.D.)
May 12 W (NP)
Conventional Cancer Therapy and Clinical Trials (Dr. Nick Petrelli,
Director of HFGCC)
May 14 F
Grant 2 due by 5pm
May 17 M (RAS, CRC)
Sikes & Cooper Research Festival
-Bone metastasis & Racial Cancer Health Disparity
May 19M
Exam 2
Final Exam (TBA):
Grant 2 Peer Review (20% of Grade)