Course Syllabus for

Oncoimmunology - Reading Course
Onkoimmunologi - Läskurs

KIM080F, 7.5 credits

Valid from: Autumn 2020
Decided by: Senior lecturer Åsa Håkansson
Date of establishment: 2020-05-28

General Information

Division: Immunotechnology
Course type: Third-cycle course
Teaching languages: English, Swedish

Aim

The accumulation of genetic alternations and the loss of cellular regulatory processes are characteristics of cancer. When the immune system fails to recognise and eliminate rogue cells and activate anti-tumour immunity, cells begin to replicate uncontrollably, transforming, outgrowing and becoming neoplasms and eventually invasive tumours. However, since Paul Ehrlich introduced the idea of immunotherapy more than 100 years ago, scientists have been investigating extensively how the host and tumour cell interactions could be manipulated in order to stimulate the immune cells to recognise and target cancer cells. This is the main aim of the current immunotherapeutic approaches. Students will study and discuss the concept of cancer immunology, focusing on the immune cells involved in cancer elimination, their role in various tumour types, as well as the current immunotherapeutic strategies that exist in cancer treatment and are in the pipeline.

Goals

Knowledge and Understanding

For a passing grade the doctoral student must be able to describe in detail the concept of immunotherapy, immunoediting, how the different immune cell types contribute to anti-tumour immune response and the current cancer immunotherapeutic strategies.

Competences and Skills

For a passing grade the doctoral student must be able to reflect in depth the different immune strategies that exist, how these can be used in the treatment of cancer and the pros and cons of such therapies.

Judgement and Approach

For a passing grade the doctoral student must be able to demonstrate the ability to present, critique and debate scientific knowledge and theory within the area of oncoimmunology.

Course Contents

The course is intended to give students an insight into the field of onco-immunology, how the immune system activates anti-tumour immunity and the different types of cancer immunotherapy that exist for the various cancer types.

Course Literature

Clarke, S., Li & B.T.: Fast Facts: Immuno-Oncology. Health Press Edition, 2017.
The course literature also consist of approximately 15 scientific articles selected by the examiner

Instruction Details

Type of instruction: Self-study literature review

Examination Details

Examination format: Oral exam
Grading scale: Failed, pass
Examiner:

Admission Details

Admission requirements: Accepted to a PhD or expected to be accepted
Assumed prior knowledge: Basic knowledge of cellular and molecular biology (first cycle)
Selection criteria: Accepted to a PhD, or expected to be accepted, at LTH

Further Information

Course coordinators: • Malin Lindstedt • Christina Sakellariou

Course Occasion Information

Contact and Other Information

Course coordinators:


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