Oncology 401

Lecture Slides available.

Semester I; 2 credits. The biological processes associated with and characteristics of neoplasia. Prerequisites: 1 year of undergraduate biology and organic chemistry or consent of instructor. Biochemistry, genetics, and physiology recommended. Text: H.C. Pitot, Fundamentals of Oncology. Instructor: Henry C. Pitot.

We explore the basic concepts of cancer biology highlighting the pioneering work done in the fields of chemical carcinogenesis, the genetics of cancer development, and the biochemistry of neoplasia, and we present some of the experimental techniques used to study cancer. We analyze the mechanisms by which environmental factors -- including exposure to radiation, chemicals (occupational or nutritional), and cancer-causing viruses, and endogenous factors such as genes, hormones, and the immune system -- affect tumor development. We emphasize the main concept of how mutations can result in altered gene expression and how it is the deregulation of the expression of genes that control the process of cell division which can result in the formation of a tumor. We continue by investigating the altered expression of genes that allow a tumor to become large and spread to other tissues. We also discuss the unusual morphological, biochemical, and physiological properties of tumor cells. Other topics such as cancer epidemiology, environmental legislation, and the theoretical basis of chemotherapy are touched on during the semester. Finally, three invited clinical oncologists share their experiences on the topics of radiation treatment, clinical trials, and pediatric oncology.

Level: Listed in the Timetable as intermediate or advanced. Prerequisites: biology, organic chemistry. Previous courses that are useful but not required: cell biology, genetics, biochemistry, and immunology.

Organization: There are two lectures per week. Class size is approximately 50 students, mostly seniors and 1st-year graduate students, some juniors.

Professor Henry Pitot
Office: 522 McArdle
Phone: 262-3247
Email: pitot@oncology.wisc.edu

TA: Michelle Bonar
Office: 317 McArdle
Phone: 262-8854
Email: (bonar@oncology.wisc.edu)

TA: Emily Powell
Office: 417A McArdle
Phone: 262-9834
Email: (ecpowell@wisc.edu)

Website: http://mcardle.oncology.wisc.edu/pitot/

Back to Top

Auditors Welcome
Fall, 2007

2 credits, Fall Semester

11:00-11:50 A.M. — Tuesday and Thursday, Room 125 McArdle Laboratory

Lecture Schedule

This course is the first in a series of courses offered by the Department of Oncology covering much of the field of basic oncology. The objective of Oncology 401 is to introduce the student to the biological processes and mechanisms associated with the characteristics of neoplasia.  Oncology 401 is given every fall semester and is open to both graduate and undergraduate students.

Instructor -- Pitot (pitot@oncology.wisc.edu) and staff

Project Assistants:
Michelle Bonar (bonar@oncology.wisc.edu)
Emily Powell (ecpowell@wisc.edu)

Text: Fundamentals of Oncology, 4th edition -- H. C. Pitot
Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, 2002

The midsemester examination will be given in late October at a time convenient to the class.  The final examination is scheduled for Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 12:25 p.m.  In addition, a student may elect to write a short paper on a subject of their choice, which is approved by Dr. Pitot. The paper should be a 5- to 10-page paper covering the subject undertaken in reasonable detail.  Thus, the student should not choose a broad general topic, which cannot possibly be covered in this short space.  Before writing the paper, the topic chosen by the student must be approved by Dr. Pitot to insure that it can be covered in the short space allotted.  The paper as an option must be handed in at the latest with the final examination on December 20.  However, the paper may be handed in at any earlier date.  The decision to undertake the optional paper must be made by the student at least three weeks prior to the final examination and the topic approved by that time.

There will be a series of review sessions given by Mss. Bonar and Powell at appropriate times during the semester. These times will be decided upon in advance with input from class members.

Grading Options

Back to Top