The bench-to-bedside research pipeline uses model systems and patient samples to provide insights into cellular and molecular mechanisms dysregulated in cancer. This knowledge is used to discover novel biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets, which can used to stratify patients based on prognostic or diagnostic factors. However, diseases and their treatments can affect individuals differently. New advanced techniques and technologies have given rise to Precision medicine: The combination of profiling (molecular and clinicopathological) of individual patients and/or tumours, which is then used to inform precise tailored and tumour-specific treatment choice (drugs or biologics) and treatment plans. Precision medicine can be used, often in real-time, to assess an individual patient's diagnostic and prognostic risk profile throughout their treatment, to improve their survival and well-being. Learners will understand the key concepts and ideas underpinning Precision medicine in oncology, how profiling (tumour or patient; molecular and clinicopathological) is used to select specific clinical subpopulations, and understand the key processes and techniques leading to the development and use of targeted therapeutics.

This module will give the student a broad introduction to the molecular and cellular mechanisms underpinning the development and progression of cancers. Key topics covered include the molecular hallmarks of cancer, such as dysregulated genome stability (DNA repair processes), gene dysregulation, tumour suppressors and oncogenes, aberrant cell survival, and importantly innate and developed molecular mechanisms of therapeutic resistance. An overview of the tumour microenvironment (angiogenesis and metastasis), immune responses (including inflammation) and genetic testing will be covered. Understanding these molecular and pathological processes will form the basis for investigating how targeted treatments are developed and applied. The module content is constantly updated to incorporate the latest oncology knowledge and research, with a focus on the translation of work/treatments from theory to practice (bench-to-bedside). Lecture/tutorial topics include: 1. Cancer overview: heterogeneity, incidence, causes (genetic and environmental) and risk factors 2. Hallmarks of cancer. 3. Genome instability. 4. Mechanisms cancer progression (including Metastasis). 5. Case studies of precision medicine profiling, current treatments, and developing drugs. 6. Investigation of tumour profiling: including Omic technologies (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, epigenomics and metabolomics). 7. Data analysis, including next-generation sequencing, pathway analysis, network analysis and gene ontology analysis. 8. Precision oncology: diagnosis, prognosis, and patient stratification. 9. Precision medicine, beyond oncology. Applying precision oncology principles to other diseases.

On successful completion of this module, it is expected that students will be able to: 1. Demonstrate a basic understanding of the fundamental principles of modern molecular and cellular oncology. 2. Demonstrate a basic understanding of the molecular and physical progression of tumours, from initiation through to metastasis. 3. Describe how computational advances and molecular profiling are used for oncology research and applied to clinical practice. 4. Explain the relationship of between cancer hallmarks and disease progression. 5. Explain how fundamental research and clinical implementation work together (bench to bedside). 6. Demonstrate a basic understanding of how to use key publicly available data (and databases) to investigate molecular or clinical questions.

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Online Lectures and tutorials, online practicals and data analysis projects.