Molecular Oncology Course

Lesson 1 • Cell Structure and Function Review

Covers organelle roles, membrane dynamics, and intracellular signaling basics. Anchors oncology concepts in normal cell physiology before introducing pathological changes.

Lesson 2 • Mendelian and Molecular Genetics Principles

Reviews inheritance patterns, allelic variation, and gene expression regulation. Establishes vocabulary for germline versus somatic mutation discussions in later chapters.

Lesson 3 • DNA Structure, Replication, and Repair

Examines double-helix architecture, replication fidelity mechanisms, and DNA repair pathways. Provides the molecular basis for understanding mutation-driven oncogenesis.

Lesson 1 • Enabling Replicative Immortality

Covers telomere maintenance, telomerase reactivation, and crisis bypass mechanisms. Explains why unlimited replication is a prerequisite for malignant progression.

Lesson 2 • Emerging Hallmarks: Metabolism and Immunity

Introduces the Warburg effect, immune evasion strategies, and tumor-promoting inflammation. Prepares students for immunotherapy and metabolic targeting discussions.

Lesson 3 • Evading Growth Suppressors and Apoptosis

Examines tumor suppressor inactivation and anti-apoptotic adaptations. Students map how cancer cells bypass the brakes that normally limit proliferation.

Lesson 4 • Angiogenesis, Invasion, and Metastasis

Describes VEGF-driven neovascularization and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition enabling invasion. Provides mechanistic grounding for metastasis content in later chapters.

Lesson 1 • Oncogene Addiction and Synthetic Lethality

Introduces oncogene addiction as a therapeutic vulnerability and synthetic lethality as a targeting strategy. Bridges driver gene biology to precision oncology rationale.

Lesson 2 • Proto-oncogene to Oncogene Conversion

Explains point mutations, amplifications, and chromosomal translocations that activate proto-oncogenes. Grounds the concept of dominant oncogenic gain-of-function in molecular evidence.

Lesson 3 • Major Tumor Suppressor Genes

Examines TP53, RB1, BRCA1/2, APC, and PTEN as canonical suppressors with distinct mechanisms. Illustrates how suppressor loss shapes tissue-specific cancer susceptibility.

Lesson 4 • Key Oncogene Families and Pathways

Profiles RAS, MYC, HER2, and receptor tyrosine kinase families as archetypal oncogenes. Connects each family to specific cancer types and therapeutic targets.

Lesson 1 • Somatic Mutation Types and Origins

Classifies single-nucleotide variants, indels, copy number alterations, and structural variants. Links each mutation class to specific mutagenic processes and repair defects.

Lesson 2 • Next-Generation Sequencing Technologies

Compares whole-genome, whole-exome, and targeted panel sequencing for oncology applications. Addresses library preparation, depth of coverage, and variant calling pipelines.

Lesson 3 • Tumor Mutational Burden and Microsatellite Instability

Defines TMB and MSI as biomarkers predictive of immunotherapy response. Students calculate and interpret these metrics from sequencing data.

Lesson 4 • Mutational Signatures and Etiology

Applies the COSMIC signature framework to attribute mutations to environmental and endogenous causes. Students interpret signature profiles to infer tumor etiology.

Lesson 1 • Stromal Cell Composition and Function

Profiles cancer-associated fibroblasts, pericytes, and endothelial cells within the tumor stroma. Explains how each stromal component supports tumor growth and immune exclusion.

Lesson 2 • Cytokines, Chemokines, and Immune Crosstalk

Maps cytokine networks that recruit, activate, or suppress immune cells within the tumor microenvironment. Connects cytokine biology to combination immunotherapy strategies.

Lesson 3 • Innate Immune Cells in the Tumor

Examines tumor-associated macrophages, NK cells, dendritic cells, and neutrophils in pro- and anti-tumor roles. Highlights polarization states that determine immune outcome.

Lesson 4 • Adaptive Immunity and Tumor Antigens

Covers T cell recognition of tumor-associated and neoantigens, B cell roles, and MHC presentation. Establishes the immunological basis for checkpoint and vaccine therapies.

Lesson 1 • Tissue-Based Molecular Assays

Covers immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and RNA expression profiling on tumor tissue. Addresses pre-analytical variables that affect assay accuracy.

Lesson 2 • Emerging Omics Approaches in Diagnostics

Introduces proteomics, metabolomics, and single-cell sequencing as next-generation diagnostic tools. Evaluates their readiness for clinical translation and integration with genomics.

Lesson 3 • Companion Diagnostics and Predictive Testing

Links specific molecular alterations to approved targeted therapies through companion diagnostic assays. Students evaluate assay concordance and clinical decision thresholds.

Lesson 4 • Liquid Biopsy Technologies

Examines circulating tumor DNA, circulating tumor cells, and exosome-based analytes. Highlights clinical applications in early detection, monitoring, and resistance profiling.

Lesson 1 • Kinase Inhibitor Classes and Mechanisms

Profiles tyrosine kinase, serine/threonine kinase, and CDK inhibitors by binding mode and selectivity. Connects inhibitor mechanism to clinical efficacy and toxicity profiles.

Lesson 2 • Epigenetic Therapies

Examines HDAC inhibitors, DNMT inhibitors, BET bromodomain inhibitors, and EZH2 inhibitors. Explains how epigenetic reprogramming restores tumor suppressor expression.

Lesson 3 • Targeting Oncogenic Signaling Pathways

Covers RAS-MAPK, PI3K-AKT-mTOR, and WNT pathway inhibition strategies. Addresses the challenge of targeting historically undruggable nodes like RAS.

Lesson 4 • Rational Combination Therapy Design

Applies synergy principles, vertical and horizontal pathway blockade, and sequencing strategies to overcome resistance. Students evaluate preclinical and clinical combination data.

Lesson 1 • Antibody-Based Therapeutics

Profiles monoclonal antibodies, bispecific antibodies, and antibody-drug conjugates as targeted delivery platforms. Connects payload chemistry and linker design to therapeutic index.

Lesson 2 • Integrating Modalities: Combination Strategies

Synthesizes evidence for chemo-immunotherapy, targeted-immunotherapy, and radiation-immunotherapy combinations. Students construct evidence-based multimodal treatment rationales.

Lesson 3 • Adoptive Cell Therapies

Covers CAR-T cell engineering, TIL therapy, and TCR-engineered T cells. Addresses manufacturing challenges, cytokine release syndrome, and solid tumor barriers.

Lesson 4 • Cancer Vaccines and Neoantigen Targeting

Examines peptide, mRNA, and dendritic cell vaccines alongside personalized neoantigen vaccine design. Evaluates clinical trial outcomes and manufacturing timelines.