Molecular Basis of Cancer: Therapeutics and Targets

Week 1: Introduction to Cancer Biology

• Hallmarks of cancer

• Genetic and epigenetic changes

• Genomic instability and mutation types

Week 2: Oncogenes and Tumor Suppressors

• Proto-oncogenes vs. oncogenes

• p53, Rb, and other key tumor suppressors

• Loss-of-function vs. gain-of-function mutations

Week 3: Signal Transduction in Cancer

• PI3K/Akt, MAPK, Wnt, JAK/STAT pathways

• Cross-talk and feedback mechanisms

• Growth factor receptors and receptor tyrosine kinases

Week 4: Tumor Microenvironment & Cancer Stem Cells

• Role of fibroblasts, immune cells, and angiogenesis

• Invasion, metastasis, EMT

• Cancer stem cells and therapy resistance

Week 5: Molecular Diagnostics and Biomarkers

• PCR, qPCR, RT-PCR, FISH, IHC

• Biomarker validation and clinical utility

• Tumor heterogeneity and clonal evolution

Week 6: Genomics and Precision Profiling

• NGS technologies and exome sequencing

• Mutation databases (COSMIC, TCGA)

• Companion diagnostics and precision treatment plans

Week 7: Targeted Cancer Therapeutics

• Monoclonal antibodies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors

• Hormone therapy and CDK inhibitors

• Resistance mechanisms and secondary mutations

Week 8: RNA-based and Gene Therapies

• Antisense oligos, siRNA, miRNA therapeutics

• CRISPR-Cas in cancer gene editing

• Case studies: BRCA, EGFR, KRAS targeting

Week 9: Immunotherapies and Immune Checkpoint Inhibition

• PD-1/PD-L1, CTLA-4, CAR-T therapies

• Neoantigens and T-cell reprogramming

• Immune-related adverse events (irAEs)

Week 10: Nanotechnology and Drug Delivery

• Nanocarriers, liposomes, and polymer-based systems

• Tumor targeting and controlled release strategies

• Deep tech platforms for real-time monitoring

Week 11: Clinical Trials and Regulatory Frameworks

• Trial design: Phase I–IV

• Ethics, consent, and protocol standardization

• Regulatory agencies: FDA, EMA, CDSCO

Week 12: Future Directions in Cancer Therapeutics

• AI in drug discovery and predictive modeling

• Organoids, lab-on-chip, and digital twin models

• Roadmap to translational research and biotech innovation

Edit

Edit