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BIOL-G2204

Biologie moléculaire de la cellule et biologie du cancer

academic year
2025-2026
2026-2027

Course teacher(s)

Françoise ROTHE (Coordinator)

ECTS credits

5

Language(s) of instruction

french

Course content

Part 1: Molecular Biology of the Cell

  • Eukaryotic cells and model organisms
  • DNA, genomes and chromosomes
  • DNA replication, cell division and DNA repair
  • Transcription and RNA processing
  • Regulation of gene expression
  • Translation and post-translational regulation
  • Membranes and membrane transport
  • Cellular compartments and intracellular trafficking
  • Signal transduction
  • Cytoskeleton
  • Cell cycle
  • Molecular and cellular biology techniques
  • Clinical applications and diseases

Part 2: Cancer Biology

  • Molecular basis of oncogenesis, including the acquired hallmarks of cancer cells
  • Genetic and epigenetic causes of oncogenesis
  • Cancer genes: oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes
  • Concepts of clonal evolution and tumor heterogeneity
  • Cancer and immunity
  • Overview of cancer treatment modalities
  • Perspectives in oncology: liquid biopsy and personalized medicine

Objectives (and/or specific learning outcomes)

Part 1: Molecular Biology of the Cell

  • Describe and explain the structural and functional organization of animal cells (organelles, cell membranes and cytoskeleton)
  • Describe and explain the mechanisms of cell division
  • Describe and explain the flow of genetic information within the cell (DNA – RNA – proteins)
  • Describe and explain the regulation of gene expression (RNA processing, splicing, RNA editing, small RNAs, methylation, etc.)
  • Describe and explain the consequences of gene dysregulation or disruption of molecular and cellular mechanisms, using specific examples of diseases

Part 2: Cancer Biology

  • Describe and explain the molecular and cellular mechanisms whose dysregulation is involved in cancer development
  • Describe and explain the functions of the main classes of genes and proteins involved in tumorigenesis
  • Describe recent diagnostic and therapeutic developments in oncology and explain the mechanisms of action of novel therapeutic approaches

Prerequisites and Corequisites

Required and Corequired knowledge and skills

Knowledge and skills in general biology (see prerequisite courses).

Required and corequired courses

Courses requiring this course

Cours ayant celui-ci comme co-requis

Teaching methods and learning activities

In-person lectures. The teaching method may be adapted depending on the public health situation. This theoretical course will be complemented by concrete examples of diseases relevant to medical training.

Students may be given the opportunity to deliver group oral presentations on topics related to the course chapters, allowing them to connect theoretical concepts with their clinical relevance.

Discussions of scientific articles and seminars with expert speakers.

References, bibliography, and recommended reading

Course slides will be made available to students in PDF format on the Virtual University (UV) platform.

Additional learning materials may include video capsules and/or scientific review articles.

Active student participation is strongly encouraged to support and enhance the learning process.

Course notes

  • Université virtuelle

Contribution to the teaching profile

  • Acquire and master the fundamental scientific knowledge relevant to medicine at the cellular and molecular levels.
  • Develop scientific curiosity, as well as the rigor and analytical skills required in the medical field.
  • Become familiar with biological terminology and understand the roles, impact and use of key biological concepts and components.
  • Describe the structure of the main organelles of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
  • Describe the different functions of these organelles.
  • Identify the main classes of genes and proteins involved in cellular functions and explain their respective roles, including in tumorigenesis.
  • Establish functional links between specific genetic alterations, the cellular and molecular mechanisms they affect, and their pathological consequences for the organism, including the development of cancer.

Other information

Contacts

Prof Françoise Rothé, Breast Cancer Translational Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine. E-mail : francoise.rothe@ulb.be

Campus

Erasme

Evaluation

Method(s) of evaluation

  • written examination

written examination

Written examination – January session / Written examination – August session

Multiple-choice questions, with possible open-ended questions.

This course consists of two distinct parts, assessed through a single examination resulting in one overall grade. Partial exemptions for either part of the course are not possible.

If students are required to give a group oral presentation, the content of these presentations will be included in the material assessed in the examination. The presentation grade will be combined with the written examination grade to determine a single overall course grade.

The presentation grade will be carried over from the first to the second examination session within the same academic year, but it will not be carried over from one academic year to the next.

Language(s) of evaluation

  • french

Programmes