GS04 1223 Fundamental Mechanisms of Cancer Development
Galko, Michael; Flores, Elsa. Three semester hours. Fall annually
This course emphasizes the developmental roots of cancer biology, covering major signaling pathways (RTK signaling, Hh signaling, etc.) and cell processes (cell death/apoptosis, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions) that are important both in normal development/homeostasis of the organism, and, when mutated or misregulated, in the progression of cancer. A series of lectures will introduce each pathway or process in cancer and then backtrack to highlight the normal developmental/homeostatic roles of the pathway/process being covered. These will be tied to a class-wide discussion of a recent or classic paper in the field that will occur every third lecture. The teaching philosophy emphasizes development of critical thinking and understanding of central concepts.
