Module Catalogue

NES8803 : Theory and Practice of Chemotherapy

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Available to incoming Study Abroad and Exchange students
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Celine Cano
  • Lecturer: Dr Ian Hardcastle
  • Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 2 Credit Value: 20
ECTS Credits: 10.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

To introduce the basic concepts of the aetiology of cancer and pathogenic disease; to impart an understanding of the host-pathogen relationship, and the concepts of selective toxicity and resistance; to equip students with an understanding of the basic principles of chemotherapy of cancer and infectious disease; to provide an understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning the action of anticancer and anti-infective drugs.

Outline Of Syllabus

Cancer Chemotherapy
Dr C Cano

1 Introduction to cancer
2 DNA reactive drugs
3 Antimetabolites
4 DNA Topoisomerase inhibitors
5 Mitotic poisons
6 DNA Repair Enzymes
7 Antiendocrine drugs
8 Current approaches to cancer chemotherapy
9 New thearapies: Targetting receptor tyrosine kinase signalling
10 Kinase inhibitors case studies

Chemotherapy of Infectious Diseases
Professor Bernard Golding

1 Introduction and historical overview
2 Principles of antimicrobial chemotherapy
3 Antibacterial agents – Penicillin and related β-lactam
4 Antibacterial agents – Glycopeptides, quinolones, and oxazolidinones
5 Antifungal agents – Polyenes and azoles
6 Antifungal agents – Azoles and other antifungals
7 Metronidazole
8 Malaria and its treatment
9 Antiviral chemotherapy
10 Acyclovir and maraviroc

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion218:0036:00preparation for presentation and questions
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion100:305:00Revision for end of semester examination
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion115:0015:00Preparation for examination
Structured Guided LearningStructured non-synchronous discussion80:304:00Online email support
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study1120:00120:00Background reading and practice past paper examination questions
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesModule talk201:0020:00PiP seminars scheduled LTA,
Total200:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Students acquire an understanding of the subject through online lectures. An understanding of the topics is reinforced by problem solving, and critical background reading of the scientific literature. The literature assignment will develop skills in reading, understanding and assimilating new information, and subsuming the acquired knowledge into a concise written review.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Digital Examination1202A50N/A
Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Oral Presentation2M50Presentation and questions
Formative Assessments

Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.

Description Semester When Set Comment
Digital Examination2M1hour digital mock exam
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The presentation will test the student's acquisition and understanding of the lecture/seminar material; presentations will assess students’ conceptual understanding and ability to collate and synthese knowledge in the key subject areas

Reading Lists

Timetable