Genomics Technology in Breast Cancer Research

Context of the course

Our increasing understanding of diseases like cancer has led to new drugs becoming available for clinical application. While the application of these new drugs leads to increased cure rates, their high cost and their potential side effects however also pose a pressure on health care cost for society. In the era of personalized medicine, we aim to provide drugs only to patients benefitting from them. Genomics techniques help us to better position new and current treatments, yielding biomarkers discriminating patients sensitive from refractory to treatment. Furthermore, the basic knowledge gained through genomics research allows for new treatments to be developed further improving patient care.

Aims of the course

This course highlights state-of-the-art technological developments in the fields of genomics and how these tools can be applied to discover new biomarkers and what we learn from their use with regard to the understanding of mechanisms of disease progression. Breast cancer, a common cancer in humans is used as an example. The course specifically aims to provide an understanding of normal mammary gland development and how breast cancer can arise in epithelial cells from the mammary gland due to hereditary as well as somatically acquired mutational programs. Furthermore, it is discussed how this knowledge can used to optimize patient care allowing for patient stratification involving both predictive and prognostic markers and for monitoring disease using innovative diagnostic tools.

Teaching activities: The course will be given in the format of classical lectures and will cover an introduction of breast cancer pathology, physiology and molecular biology. Also the genetics of the disease will be reviewed. Different types of technological platforms for genomics research will be reviewed as well as to some details the bioinformatics and mathematics behind the applied data analysis tools. The course also includes a journal club in which the students will present and discuss literature related to the topics and learning objectives of this course. Overall, during the course, students will get a clearer understanding of how technology and the mathematics behind it can be applied to relevant issues in the field of cancer research and aid in understanding disease progression and therapy resistance. During the lectures, students understanding of the matter will be actively tested. During a journal club, students will read assigned literature and prepare a presentation and propose discussion points for their peers. This course is essential to understand the mechanisms of disease progression which helps the develop new treatment on the one hand but also can help in keeping cancer treatment cost effective. Students are expected to read the background literature provided as well actively participating to the lectures by posing questions. Furthermore, a critical attitude is expected when selected scientific literature related to the topics of the course is being prepared for during the journal club. At any moment during the course I am available for questions by email and will reply within 24 hours. During the preparation of the presentation for the journal club I will be present on site.