Duration
15h Th
Number of credits
| Master in biomedicine (120 ECTS) | 2 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
This course aims to present the basics of metabolic reprogramming in tumor cell compared to normal cell. The course presents an updated overview of major metabolic pathways and their regulation by oncogenic signals and by the tumor microenvironment. It describes the metabolic flexibility of tumor cells that allows them to survive and ensure their proliferation by adapting to the metabolic and hypoxic stress of tumor. The metabolism of endothelial and immune cells of the tumor microenvironment is discussed. The course cites the most relevant puplications on the potential applications of targeting some metabolic pathways in cancer and the therapeutic benefit of the combination of targteted therapies with inhibitors of cancer metabolism.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
The primary goal of the course is to give the student the opportunity to integrate the metabolism in the context of prequired knowledge on tumor development and oncogenic signaling pathways. This course will provide an overview of current methods used in vivo and in vitro to study the metabolic flux, quantification and measurement of substrates and products of synthesis or degradation. In particular, we prepare students to understand the value of highlighting potential metabolic vulnerabilities that can be targeted therapeutically.
The 15h courses are presented in the form of calssic ex-cathedra and/or seminar with digital support and which address both the theoretical knowledge of the classical metabolic pathway and the perturbations in cancer by integrating the most recent publications and reviews. Each course last 2h and contains 30 minutes discussion of a recommended top journal article. This will involve highlighting the interest of the approaches used, their advantages and limitations. The learning obejctive is to help students develop a critical analysis of the approaches and methods used, and to ask the fundamental question about the experimental procedure.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Cellular Regulation Principle Course (BAC3)
Cellular Regulation Supplementary Course (M1)
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
The course is divided into two-hour sessions including 1h30 min of ex cathedra courses and/or seminar summarizing the theoretical notions and recent advances, and 30 minutes of discussion of a proposed article.
The theoretical course is presented as follows:
- Description of glycolysis and Warburg effect in cancer; regulation of glycolytic enzymes by hypoxia and oncogenes
- Metabolism of glutamine and its importance in the metabolism of other amino acids and the role of HDI-1 and -2 in cancer
- Mitochondria, oxidative phosphorylation and lipid synthesis
- Lipolysis and regulation of lipid oxidation in cancer
- Metabolism of serine, the pentose phosphate pathway and their connections with the folic acid cycle and the methionine cycle in cancer
- Metabolism of endothelial cells and inflammatory cells in cancer
- Inhibitors of cancer metabolism: clinical trilas and diagnosis
- Oral exam and analysis of a scientific article
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
On site
Organisational adjustments related to the current health context
Recommended or required readings
A review artical and a results artical will be recommended to read before each classe. These references are related to the topic of the day, they will be brifely discussed before the course.
Assessment methods and criteria
Below you will find information on the evaluation methods planned for in-person and remote exams as well as those planned for hybrid sessions. Depending on how the health crisis evolves, the chosen method will be communicated to you no later than one month before the start of the exam session.
- Oral exam and analysis of paper
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
Contacts
Nor Eddine Sounni
Tel +32 4 366 25 70
FAX: +32 4 366 29 36
Email : nesounni@uliege.be