2025/26 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

MEDM5141M The Molecular Biology of Cancer

15 creditsClass Size: 50

Module manager: Dr Stephen Griffin
Email: s.d.c.griffin@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2025/26

Pre-requisite qualifications

Follow programme entry requirement.

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module will provide essential core understanding of Cancer Molecular Biology and how it relates to disease progression and patient outcomes. Focus will be placed upon the dysregulation of key cellular processes corresponding to the classical cancer hallmarks and how major signalling pathways are involved and interact in this process. This will in turn provide understanding of how targeted medicine is evolving to treat cancer on a patient specific basis. Teaching will be delivered by experts in relevant areas in the form of lectures and tutorials. Students will develop the molecular tools with which to unpick the applied aspects of cancer biology discussed in further modules.

Objectives

To develop graduates who have knowledge and understanding of:

1. How fundamental cell biology relates to malignant change
2. The stages of cancer causation, development and progression
3. Key pathways deregulated as cancers occur and progress
4. The impact of the sequencing revolution and cancer profiling on patient outcomes
5. Interactions between cancerous and other cells within the body

Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

LO1: Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of the key cancer hallmarks and their relation to cancer progression
LO2: Demonstrate advanced understanding of the complex cancer genotype and phenotype at the level of single cells and through tumour evolution
LO3: Assess and communicate new findings in the field of cancer biology

Skills Learning Outcomes

SLO1: Demonstrate proficiency using various search engines to gather relevant data and information related to biomedical research, as well as using software to analyse data and produce diagrams illustrating concepts for inclusion in written reports and oral presentations. (working, academic, digital skills)
SLO2: Demonstrate critical evaluation of literature relevant to biomedical research and the ability appraise key concepts related to experimental approaches in biomedical research. (academic skills)
SLO4: Demonstrate efficient time management in the preparation for tutorials, reading and critique of primary research papers, analysis of data, synthesising written work, generating digital presentations, and adhering to deadlines to submit the assessments.  (working, academic skills)
SLO5: Demonstrate the ability to present information in a clear, concise, and structured manner, both in a verbal and written form, and the ability to use visual aids appropriately to support written work and oral presentations.  (working, enterprise and academic skills)
SLO6: Demonstrate the ability to use the correct scientific language appropriate to their level of studies and good academic practice, including referencing and using their own language instead of plagiarizing. (academic skills)

Syllabus

The module will begin by describing the fundamental concepts of cancers. This begins by defining oncogenes and tumour suppressors, disease grade and stage, systemic disease and outcomes. It will then expand to cover the inception of malignancy in detail, based upon the concept of multi-step carcinogenesis and focusing upon pre-malignancy and cancer initiation. The concept of cancer initiating/stem cells will be discussed in relation to ongoing tumour evolution, resistance to therapy, and exploring how the differentiation phenotype of cells relates to tumour progression, invasion, and metastasis.

The next stage will focus upon cellular processes and the microenvironment influence cancer onset and progression. This will include cell cycle, genetic, epigenetic and metabolic changes in human cancers. It will also expand to include the tumour stroma, angiogenesis and hypoxia and pro/anti-cancer immunological responses.

Finally, a group of lectures will focus upon disease-specific aspects of human cancer, including rare and childhood cancers, cancer subtypes and the molecular characteristics of tumours of unmet clinical need.

The series of lectures will in turn be complemented by tutorials running in parallel that focus upon key signalling pathways, cancer epidemiology and how the NGS revolution has changed the way we understand cancer today.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Supervision	1	0.50	0.50
Supervision	1	1.00	1.00
presentation	1	5.00	5.00
Lecture	20	1.00	20.00
Tutorial	10	1.00	10.00
Private study hours			113.50
Total Contact hours			36.50
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students will receive formative feedback during the planning stages for both the literature review and the assessed presentation involving one- to-one meetings with module staff. They will also be provided with feedback following their assessed presentations and literature review. To that effect, 4 tutorials are timetabled to provide contact time in addition to student-led one-to-meeting with the student assigned tutor.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Literature Review	Literature review draft for formative feedback - 2500 words	0.00
Oral Presentation	Oral Presentation draft for formative feedback - e-poster	0.00
Literature Review	2500 words	70.00
Oral Presentation	e-poster	30.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

There is no compensation between assessments for this module, students must pass each individual assessment in order to pass the module.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 23/01/2025

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