CONCEPTS IN ONCOLOGY
ONCOLOGY 502
(Winter 2009)

Lecture Time:	Monday and Wednesday 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Lecture Location:	Gordon & Leslie Diamond Lecture Theatre, Main Floor, BC Cancer Research Centre, 675 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3 (see map)
Coordinating Instructor:
Dr. Andrew Weng
Office:	Room 13.113, BC Cancer Research Centre
Phone number:	(604) 675-8136
Office hour:	Appointment only (contact Amy Yu to arrange an appointment)
Assistant:	Amy Yu
Office:	12th floor, BC Cancer Research Centre (near the conference room)
Phone number:	(604) 675-8128
Email:	ayu@bccancer.bc.ca

Course Description:

This is a 3-credit (one-term) lecture course taught by IOP faculty emphasizing the biology and epidemiology of cancer, and theories behind prevention, diagnosis and treatment of different types of cancer. A major goal of the course is to integrate knowledge and research activities in the biology of cancer with all disciplines in oncology. For example, questions posed could include: How does one determine if a population has an increased incidence of a specific cancer due to genetic versus environmental versus lifestyle influences? How does genetic instability contribute to cancer initiation and progression? What are the advantages/difficulties of using gene therapy approaches to treat cancer? What drives the evolution of a cancer cell clone? How do cancer/host interactions limit and promote tumor expansion? What are the ethical issues involved in gathering genetic information for cancer control?

Registration

This course is restricted from online registration. Only students within the Interdisciplinary Oncology Program or the Departments of Pathology or Medical Genetics  are eligible to take this course. Also, students are expected to have an appropriate basic molecular biology background before taking this course.

If you are eligible to take this course, contact Amy Yu (ayu@bccancer.bc.ca) to obtain permission for registration.

Course Calendar

Exam and Evaluation

Two examinations, each contributing 50% to the final grade, will be given throughout the course. The exams will not be cumulative, although the materials from each subsequent section of the course may be built upon the material from the previous sections. The exam may take the form of either take-home essays or in-class essays. The instructor will finalize the exam format at the beginning of the class.

Assignment	Percent	2009 Exam Period
Midterm exam	50%	Oct 19- Oct 26
Final exam	50%	Dec 2 - Dec 9

Makeup-exams are not allowed except in extraordinary cases of validated medical and personal/family emergencies. In such cases, contact Amy Yu (ayu@bccancer.bc.ca) as soon as possible and be prepared to provide written documentation.