Newcastle University

Aims

The module explores the concepts underlying the pharmacological principles that govern the use of drugs in the treatment of cancer. The students will gain a detailed understanding of the mechanisms of action and resistance that underlie antitumour effects and toxicities of the drugs to treat cancer.

Outline Of Syllabus

In this module, drugs used in the treatment of cancer are discussed in terms of their mechanisms of action.
The module covers twelve topics subdivided into three units.


The first unit is an introduction to cancer and the pharmacological concepts that are relevant to cancer therapy and introduces the first of a number of classes of drugs used to treat cancer. The second unit covers four more important classes of conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy. The final unit deals with the more targeted therapies and looks at the phenomenon of tumour resistance.

1) Hallmarks of cancer and targets of therapy
2) Introduction to chemotherapy
3) Principles of Pharmacology

4) Alkylating agents and platinums

5) Antimitotics
6) Antimetabolites; antifolates
7) Antimetabolites ; nucleoside analogues
8) Topoisomerase I and II poisons

9) Hormonal therapies
10) Antibody-based therapies
11) Tyrosine kinase inhibitors
12) Drug resistance

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Typically, students are a geographically dispersed group. Many are in full time work. By being delivered online, this module is accessible to students unable to attend due to distance and or time. Online materials are availible to support the learning outcomes;

Through a series of online tutorials (including podcasts, compressed videos and recapped PowerPoint presentations) as well as private study (including directed reading), students will gain detailed knowledge and understanding of the basic principles of chemotherapy and pharmacology ; chemotherapeutic, hormonal and targeted treatments for cancer, according to their mechanisms of action; and principles and mechanisms of tumour resistance to drug treatment. Furthermore, students will be encouraged to participate in collaborative learning via blogs and wikis. Personal development will be encouraged through the use of relective journal postings, shared only with the module leader. As the students proceed through the module, they will complete a number of interactive activities that will help to consolidate their understanding of the curriculum. The data compiled will guide their summative assessments.

This will facilitate the development of interpersonal and communication skills as well as team working and peer assessment skills.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The learning outcomes are assessed formally (summative) through the MCQs, a short written essay and a PowerPoint presentation.

The essay will demonstrate the students’ capacity to describe, with examples, the major classes of chemotherapeutic agents, including clinical use, toxicities and mechanisms of resistance. This will consolidate the students’ newly acquired knowledge across the whole range of the module as well as their ability to process information.

Multiple choice questions (formative) will help to promote reflection in students in order to identify areas of strength, weakness or misunderstanding. MCQs (summative) will probe specific points of understanding and knowledge for the students across the module.

The PowerPoint presentation will allow students to develop a particular theme to illustrate their understanding of cancer pharmacology and the role of drug resistance. This assesses the students' ability to synthesise data and present information succinctly and in a visual format.