Cancer Biology Department

1 - Program Aims

The goal of the program is to train a skilled biochemist with diverse capabilities,
which can act as an effective laboratory expert in Cancer Centers, is able to
critically assess medical literature and research, and is qualified to practice in
either an academic or community setting.

2 - Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

a - Knowledge and understanding

a1 - State fundamentals, applications and different biologic effects of radiation.
a2 - Describe the different types of variables and data presentation and state the different techniques of sampling, survival analysis and methods used in epidemiologic research.
a3 - State the the equipment's for tissue culture and its constituents.
a4 - Identify pathologic criteria of different malignancies.
a5 - Investigate the role of cancer genes in the evolution and prognosis of cancer.
a6 - Describe the principles of immunohistochemistry.
a7 - Define the significance of apoptosis in cancer and methods of assessment.
a8 - Describe the stages of the cell cycle, including the role of checkpoints, and factors that influence cell cycle control.
a9 - Investigate cellular and molecular basis of cancer and tumor progression.
a10 - Define different types of viruses and ongogenic viruses.
a11 - Describe the action of different cytokines.
a12 - List the potential mechanisms by which tumor cells escape from an immune response.
a13 - Define different mechanisms of viral oncogenesis and how masking virus occurs.
a14 - List the types of viruses and their shape and their stage of development under EM.
a15 - Describe the drug effect and its action and Identify the relation between pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
a16 - List the principles of action of cytotoxic drugs and the the main classes of the cytotoxic agents.
a17 - Summarize the metabolic disorders of carbohydrates , lipids, nucleic acids and proteins.
a18 - State the mechanism of the biological oxidation and energy production.
a19 - Describe the role of energy , coenzyme, vitamins , minerals metabolism and hormones in normal and cancer cells.

b - Intellectual skills

b1 - Detect the different radiation units and the factors affecting irradiation
b2 - Point out the different methods used in epidemiologic research
b3 - Differentiate between normal and cancer tissue culture.
b4 - Point out the molecular techniques in diagnosis and staging of cancer.
b5 - Evaluate the role of immunohistochemistry in classification of tumors.
b6 - Provide the role of cytology in the diagnosis of tumors.
b7 - Point out the different methods of viral diagnosis with management and control of viral infections according to the standards.
b8 - Compare between the immune response to tumors in situ and the detection of immune response in vitro.
b9 - Describe the mechanisms of antiviral activity of interferons.
b10 - Differentiate between tumor specific and tumor associated antigens.
b11 - Compare between the adoptive and active immunization.
b12 - Point out the host reaction to viral latency.
b13 - Describe the host -viral relationship in the carcinogenesis process.
b14 - Compare eukaryotic and prokaryotic genomes.
b15 - Describe the different EM procedures
b16 discuss the Mechanisms of resistance of chemotherapy.
b17 - Differentiate between the metabolic disorders of carbohydrates , lipids, nucleic acids and proteins.
b18 - Point out the steps of the biological oxidation and energy production.
b19 - Distinguished between hormones role in normal and cancer cells.

c - Professional and practical skills

c1 - Apply different screening tests and different rates for mortality and morbidity.
c2 - Prepare specific cell line types and their requirements.
c3 - Use chromosomes to identify cancer.
c4 - Apply techniques used in molecular biology for the diagnosis, staging, and targeted
therapy for tumors.
c5 - Interpret reports of immunohistochemistry and molecular techniques.
c6 - Apply different mechanisms of different viruses evade immunity.
c7 - Apply epidemiological relationship between each virus and related cancer.
c8 - Differentiate between the virus and other cell organelles under the EM.
c9 - Apply dose modification for patients with kidney or liver impairment.
c10 - Design an effective clinical regimens for different kinds of tumors.
c11 - Applying drug and radiation level monitoring for cancer treatment.

d - General and transferable skills

d1 - Communicate with colleges and students.
d2 - Communicate properly with the statistician during medical research.
d3 - Organize quality control.
d4 - Communicate with the pathologists and physicians to select the appropriate molecular
diagnostic and cytogenetic methods.
d5 - Work in teams to promote translational research that assists in proper management of
tumors.
d6 - Analyze scientific data and methodologies and discuss the role of basic and clinical
research in the development of cancer therapeutics.
d7 - Able to solve problems.

2 - Academic Standards

The Academic Standards are adopted from and the general academic reference standards for postgraduate studies published by the National Authority for Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Education NAQAAE, 2009.
The standards of the the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (UK) QAA, 2004 are used as a benchmark. Benchmarking has, therefore, been restricted to the generic areas of activity.

3 - Program Structure and Contents

3a. Program duration: 2.5 years
3b. Program structure: 105 Credit points

4 - Program Admission Requirements

Applicants should have a Master of Science (MSc) degree from one of the Egyptian Universities or other scientific institutes acknowledged by Cairo University to be granted admission. The applicant should have a minimum score of Good in the MSc degree.

5 - Regulations for progression and Program completion

The student must register a thesis study starting from the 2nd Semester after completing the credit hours required for Biol 701 Radiation biology, Biol 702 Basic Biostatistics, Biol 703 Cancer Epidemiology , Biol 704 Cancer Tissue culture and studies of chromosomes, Biol 705 Applied Cancer Pathology, Biol 706 Basic cancer Biology (B), Biol 707 Immunological diagnosis of cancer. The subject of the thesis study should be approved by the Department Council, the Institute Council for Postgraduate Education, and the University Council. The thesis study should take at least 2 years starting from the date of approval by Institute Council for Postgraduate Education.
<OL><LI>Students must attend at least 75% of tutorial sessions and attend practical sessions according to the Department council recommendation. Students who fail to meet this minimal percent of attendance may be prevented from attending the exam in this specific course.</LI>
<LI>For all courses, a minimum of 60% has to be achieved in all written, oral, and practical exams.</LI>
<LI>If the student fails in one of the courses, He/She retakes the exam in that course only.</LI>
<LI>The degree is granted after the thesis defense is accepted by the Judging Commission and approved by the Department Council, the Institute Council for Postgraduate Education, and the University Council.</LI></OL>

Program Administration

Courses Contributing to the Program

General Courses (9)

Specialty Courses (4)