LQN301 Cancer Genomics
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | LQN301 |
|---|---|
| Equivalent(s): | LQZ301 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
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| Domestic tuition unit fee | $3,468 |
| International unit fee | $4,764 |
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Online
| Unit code: | LQN301 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Equivalent: | LQZ301 |
| Coordinator: | Pamela Pollock | pamela.pollock@qut.edu.au |
Overview
Clinicians and biomedical scientists need to know of the genetic basis of cancer; hereditary cancer predispositions; and the utility of cancer genomic testing in classifying and diagnosing cancer, for prognosis and treatment, and in monitoring disease progression.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Describe details of the genetic basis of cancer; the most common cancer predisposition syndromes, and the role of genomics in cancer diagnosis, surveillance and management.
- Analyse genomic testing techniques available as well as their strengths, limitations, sensitivities and specificities.
- Apply your understanding of the cytogenomics and molecular genomics to cancer diagnosis, surveillance and management.
- Generate reports detailing the molecular basis and classification of malignancy and their implications on treatment.
Content
- The principles of the mechanisms of cancer evolution (types of changes in the genome which result in the development of cancer)
- Genetic/genomic methods used to investigate cancers
- How genomic data is utilised in the routine diagnosis, sub-classification, prognosis calculation, and disease monitoring
- The principles of guided treatment of cancer; provide seminal examples of established companion diagnostics / co-dependent gene-drug interactions (e.g. kinase inhibitors such as imatinib and BCR-ABL1 gene fusion; HER2 and herceptin)
- Classify leukaemia / solid tumour on the basis of existing molecular classifications
- The use of genetic and genomic testing in a multidisciplinary decision making environment (e.g. tumour board)
- Distinguishing between known environmental risk factors, and familial cancer predisposition risk
- Established familial cancer predisposition syndromes such as Lynch syndrome, Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (BRCA1/2), Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia, Von-Hippel Lindau, Familial Adenomatous Polyposis and Li Fraumeni syndrome. Be familiar with the associated genetic lesions
- The value of emerging technologies and methods being integrated into genetic pathology (e.g. low coverage WGS for ctDNA for diagnosis and monitoring disease following treatment; identification of new biomarkers which inform strategies for novel targeted therapies/drug development; RNASeq for expression analysis and fusion gene detection, single cell analysis (tumour heterogeneity, clonal selection/evolution), methylation analysis as a tumour classifier).
- The identification of robust and reliable web based and literature resources for analysis, interpretation, and implications of genetic changes in cancer.
Learning Approaches
This unit is designed to introduce you to the core concepts of cancer genomics. The online delivery is through Canvas. The unit is developed around the principles of adult learning, theory and practice and open learning guidelines. This predominantly, asynchronous learning environment allows you to go through lectures, materials and exercises at your own pace.
The Canvas site will provide you with resources including pre-recorded lectures, research papers, media articles and videos. You will also be able to access online meetings, interactive exercises and online message boards. There will be at least one webinar or video-conferencing in which a concept is explained and students will be expected to solve a problem or discuss approaches to a case during the virtual class.
Canvas will facilitate your ongoing conversations with other students and with academic staff. Guidance will be provided, through regular announcements in the Canvas site for you in terms of appropriate self-pacing of your study during the semester. You will be expected to post questions on message boards or email the unit co-ordinator.
You will be encouraged to read widely and to think critically about the nature and scope of how Cancer Genomics relates to the field of Diagnostic Genomics.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
The online webinars and discussion boards are the key places you can ask for and receive feedback on your understanding of course materials. Feedback on assessment 1 and assessment 2 will be given regarding your analytical skills, ability to identify resources, reasoning and ability to interpret and summarise your findings. Assessment 3 feedback will be by way of a mark which reflects your theoretical knowledge. Each assessment item will include individual feedback on your progress as stated above and feedback will be offered to the group through the Announcements page on the Canvas site.
Assessment
Overview
There are three summative assessment items in LQN301. Assessment 1 is a case study which gives you the opportunity to synthesise the knowledge gained during this course to summarise the clinical features of cancer predisposition by explaining the germline and somatic changes you would expect to see in a family and how these might best be detected. Assessment 2 is a written research paper in which you are presented with a cancer genomic sequencing result. This exercise allows you the opportunity to plan a research paper, critically evaluate the literature, describe the clinical and molecular aspects of the case and discuss their significance in the context of the literature. Assessment 3 is a theory examination consisting of multiple choice, short answer and long answer questions covering the semester's content, administered online.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Case Study
In this authentic assessment piece you will be presented with a case study which gives you the opportunity to synthesise the knowledge gained during this course to summarise the clinical features of the cancer predisposition, explain the germline and somatic changes you would expect to see in the family, and how these might best be detected.
Assessment task will be summative, graded on 1-7 scale.
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Assessment: Research Paper
This authentic assessment will present you with a case with a cancer genomic sequencing result. You will be asked to plan a research paper, critically evaluate the literature, describe the clinical and molecular aspects of the case and discuss their significance in the context of the literature.
Assessment task will be summative, graded on 1-7 scale.
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Assessment: Examination
This examination will consist of multiple choice, short answer and long answer questions. It is aimed to ensure that you have a coherent knowledge of the essential elements of human genetics which is required on a daily basis in both laboratory and clinical genetic settings. The examination will be open online for a 48 hour period and must be completed within ninety minutes of commencement.
Academic Integrity
Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.
Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
In addition to online lecture notes, a selection of online textbooks, journal articles, and internet resources will be made available each week through the QUT Library.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.