Cancer Genetics - SMB0006

Assessment 1: Other

Formative assessments will be made available via the VLE alongside supporting documentation. Feedback on formative work will be provided via dedicated tutorial sessions.

Formative assessment

Assessment 2: In-Class Test

In-Class Test

Assessment 1: Performance Assessment

Summative Assessment

The module will consider how the ‘genomics revolution’ has impacted on our understanding of cancer and provided new ways to diagnose, prognose and even target disease. Content will include sessions detailing how macro-genetics (via projects such as The Cancer Genome Atlas) and single-cell genomics have come together to provide a modern and detailed picture of cancer genetics. The role of key genes in inherited cancer will also be discussed, alongside progress made in the field of biomarker discovery and novel therapeutics.

School of Applied Sciences

FHEQ7 reading generally comprises peer-reviewed articles, rather than textbooks, as the subject area is highly specialised. Suggested and directed reading will be provided as part of lecture content, however, example texts are provided below.
Rozenblatt-Rosen O, et al. The Human Tumor Atlas Network: Charting Tumor Transitions across Space and Time at Single-Cell Resolution. Cell. 2020 Apr 16;181(2):236-249. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.03.053. PMID: 32302568; PMCID: PMC7376497.
Claussnitzer M, et al. A brief history of human disease genetics. Nature. 2020 Jan;577(7789):179-189. doi: 10.1038/s41586-019-1879-7. Epub 2020 Jan 8. PMID: 31915397; PMCID: PMC7405896.
Rahman N. Realizing the promise of cancer predisposition genes. Nature. 2014 Jan 16;505(7483):302-8. doi: 10.1038/nature12981. Erratum in: Nature. 2014 Jun 5;510(7503):176. PMID: 24429628; PMCID: PMC4975511.
Slack FJ, Chinnaiyan AM. The Role of Non-coding RNAs in Oncology. Cell. 2019 Nov 14;179(5):1033-1055. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2019.10.017. PMID: 31730848; PMCID: PMC7347159.
Blum A, Wang P, Zenklusen JC. SnapShot: TCGA-Analyzed Tumors. Cell. 2018 Apr 5;173(2):530. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2018.03.059. PMID: 29625059.

Biology

SMB0006 - Cancer Genetics

Cancer Genetics

be able to describe giving examples how genetic differences can be exploited to identify and treat cancer.

be able to outline and explain how different aspects of an individual’s genes drive cancer development. 

be able to critique genetic data to synthesise models of cancer progression. 



be able to differentiate between genetic risk factors to predict their impact on patient survival.