Universitat Internacional de Catalunya

Clinical Oncology

Clinical Oncology
3.5
12104
5
Second semester
OB
Main language of instruction: Catalan

Teaching staff


Mrs. CROS COSTA, Sara - scroscosta@uic.es

Students can ask the teachers questions at the end of each class.

Outside of class hours, there is the option to ask questions via email.

  • Sara Cros Costa: scroscosta@uic.es

  • Judith Balmaña Gelpi: jbalmana@uic.es

  • Xavier González Farre: xgonzalez@uic.es

  • Pilar Vicente Lazcano: pvicente@uic.es / pvicente@fphag.org

  • Marc Campayo Guillaumes: mcampayo@uic.es

  • José María Mazarico Gallego: jmmazarico@uic.es

  • Oriol Mirallas Viñas: urimirallas@uic.es


Introduction

The clinical oncology teaching team aims to transmit the essential up-to-date concepts of oncology that a doctor must master in order to be able to deal with daily clinical practice. To create a framework of knowledge based on scientific evidence, which is comprehensible and up to date and which allows students to obtain the ability to make agile clinical decisions in oncology patients from any medical speciality, highlighting the transversality of the oncology patient.

 

The aim of the course in Medical Oncology (3.5 ECTS - European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) is to: 

  1. Acquire the basic knowledge of carcinogenesis, 
  2. Know the neoplasms staging systems, 
  3. Be able to clinically evaluate diagnosed cases and 
  4. Understanding of mechanism of action of current treatments of cancer.

 

In order to achieve this objective, the time distribution for the course is as follows:

  • Lectures: 20 hours.
  • Case method: 12 hours.
  • Laboratory Skills: 4 hours.

Pre-course requirements

Have taken and passed: 

 

  • Molecular and cellular biology
  • Pathological anatomy
  • Semiology and physiology
  • Surgical physiopathology
Previous competence in subjects from previous courses is recommended, such as:
  • Specific subjects by systems where the teaching of the neoplastic process has been initiated, especially:
    • Pneumology
    • Gynaecology
    • Digestive system
    • Urology
    • Neurology

Objectives

The knowledge to acquire at the end of the course is:

 

  • Physiopathology:
    1. To know the principles of the basic physiopathology of the neoplastic disease.

 

  • Clinical:
    1. To recognise the signs and symptoms of clinical suspicion of neoplasia and to differentiate them from benign processes.
    2. Know the appropriate anamnesis of the patient in diagnostic process.
    3. Know how to perform a detailed and directed physical examination for clinical staging and complementary findings: lymph nodes, head and neck, chest, abdomen, breast, testicles, pelvis (with rectal, prostate and uterine examination), nervous system and musculoskeletal system.
    4. Practice communication with the patient and his/her social environment. Initiate the provision of information throughout the diagnostic/therapeutic process in the appropriate way to the patient's needs. Management of the socio-familial environment.

 

  • Differential diagnosis:
    1. Determine the complementary explorations that lead to the diagnosis and staging of the neoplasia.

 

  • Diagnosis and staging:
    1. Acquire basic knowledge of cancer staging.
    2. To know the relationship between pathology, disease staging disease and vital prognosis of the patient.

 

  • Treatment:
    1. To know in which cases the aim of treatment is curative or palliative.
    2. To know the main tools of oncological treatment, their mechanisms of action and their toxicities.
    3. Differentiate between active palliation and symptomatic palliation.

 

  • Prevention:
  • To know the population screening programmes.
  • To know the primary and secondary cancer prevention measures.

Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme

  • 09 - Understand and recognize the effects, mechanisms and manifestations of disease on the structure and function of the human body.
  • 10 - To understand and recognise the agents and risk factors which determine health status, and learn how they determine the symptoms and natural development of acute or chronic diseases in individuals and populations.
  • 12 - Understanding the foundations for action, the indications and efficacy of therapeutic interventions, based on available scientific evidence.
  • 15 - Ability to formulate an initial diagnosis and establish a rationalised diagnostic strategy.
  • 16 - Recognize and deal with situations that put life in immediate danger and those that require immediate attention.
  • 17 - Establish the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment, applying principles based on the best information possible and safe clinical practice..
  • 18 - To indicate the most appropriate (pharmacological, surgical, psychological, social or other) treatments that are pertinent to the most prevalent procedures, in terms of rehabilitation and also terminally ill patients, including an evaluation of their effectiveness.
  • 19 - Propose preventive measures appropriate to each clinical situation.
  • 27 - Recognize role in multidisciplinary teams, assuming leadership when appropriate, for the delivery of health care, such as interventions for health promotion.
  • 31 - Understand, critically evaluate and know how to use sources of clinical and biomedical information to obtain, organize, interpret and communicate scientific and health care information.
  • 35 - Understand the importance and limitations of scientific thinking in the study, prevention and treatment of disease.

Learning outcomes of the subject

  • Knowledge of the mechanisms of carcinogenesis and cancer progression
  • Indicate the procedure for early detection and population screening
  • Indicate the diagnostic procedures of tumours when alarm signs and symptoms are present
  • Indicate and interpret the complementary tests for a diagnosis and extension study of the different tumours
  • Knowledge of tumour staging
  • Knowledge of the strategies available for treatment of the most frequent tumours
  • Knowledge of treatment complications
  • Management of the prevailing symptoms of the oncological disease
  • Detection of emergencies in cancer patients and immediate therapeutic orientation.

Syllabus

Masterclasses:

Subject 1, 2 and 3: General concepts of biology and fundamentals of cancer treatment (Sara Cros Costa)

  • Biological basis of cancer (Cell cycle and regulation of the cell cycle, Hallmarks of cancer)
  • Global epidemiology of cancer
  • Treatment plan (Prognostic and predictive factors. Treatment objective. Treatment tools. Toxicities)

  Topic 4. Neoplasm of Unknown Origin. (Xavier González Farre)

  • Diagnostic guidance, diagnostic tests and treatment options

Topic 5: Lung Cancer (Marc Campayo Guillaumes)

  • Non-small cell lung cancer
  • Small cell lung cancer

Topic 6. Digestive Tumors (Pilar Vicente Lazcano)

  • Esophageal cancer / Stomach cancer / Pancreatic cancer / Colon and rectal cancer

Topic 7. Gynecological tumors. (Xavier González Farre)

  • Ovarian cancer / Cervical cancer / Uterine cancer

Topic 8. Tumors of the head and neck. (Oriol Mirallas Viñas)

Topic 9: Genetic counseling and hereditary cancer. (Judith Balmaña Gelpi)

Topic 10. Urological tumors (Sara Cros Costa)

  • Testicular cancer / Prostate cancer / Bladder cancer / Kidney cancer

Topic 11: Breast cancer (Sara Cros Costa)

Topic 12: Melanoma. (Oriol Mirallas Viñas)

 

 Case methods:

Case method 1: Oncological emergencies (José María Mazarico Gallego)

Case method 2: Paraneoplastic syndromes and brain tumors (José María Mazarico Gallego)

Case method 3: Lung cancer (Marc Campayo Guillaumes)

Case method 4: Imaging diagnosis in oncology. RECIST criteria and practical application. (Paloma Puyalto de Pablo)

Case Method 5: Genetic Counseling (Judith Balmaña Gelpi)

Case method 6: Decision-making in oncology (Xavier González Farre)

Case method 7: The clinical trial as a therapeutic and improvement tool in oncology. (Xavier González Farre)

Case method 8: Diagnostic aspects and prevention (Pilar Vicente Lazcano)

Case method 9: Digestive cancer (Pilar Vicente Lazcano)

 

 SKILLS LABORATORY

  • Breast Cancer Skills Lab (Sara Cros Costa)
  • Prostate Cancer Skills Lab (Sara Cros Costa)

A two-hour seminar will be held in which "The development of diagnostic guidelines in the face of the semiology of suspicion" will be addressed. It will be developed in 5 groups of 25 students each.

Targets:

  • Recognize through physical examination the existence of the main tumors and their complications, oriented to their natural history
  • Decide which physical examinations, laboratory tests and imaging tests are necessary to rule out or confirm the suspected diagnosis.
  • Establish the gradation of tests to be performed based on their positive or negative result.
  • Consider the discomfort and risks that each diagnostic test may cause to patients.
  • Learn how to obtain informed consent for those tests that require it.
  • Learn how to properly inform the patient and the family

Abilities:

  • Learn the physical examination of a Breast Neoplasm
  • Learn the physical examination of a Prostate Neoplasm
  • Learn how to properly inform the patient and family
  • Role-Playing on the information process

Teaching and learning activities

In person



Master Class: The master class is the setting in which a teacher transmits the knowledge in a classroom to the whole group of students of the course. The classes are two hours long in which two subjects will be developed.

Case Method: The general objectives of the case method is to put to students, distributed in two groups, situations of great importance in clinical oncology and allow them to analyze deeply and reflectively the case presented. 

  • Problem-based learning: The general objectives of these activities are to ask students, divided into two groups, two clinical cases that students will have to study and find a solution. Subsequently, the teacher will guide you in the behavior patterns in the face of this situation. 

Skills laboratory: The skills lab is carried out in small groups and is an area in which the student can basically develop communication and physical exploration skills based on manikin, robots and also simulated and real patients. It is also an area for the most practical knowledge of complementary explorations and / or therapeutic measures.

Evaluation systems and criteria

In person



The evaluation of the subject will be done by numerical grade out of 10.

The proportion of the final grade is distributed according to:

- Skills lab: 5%.

  • 2.3% attendance.
  • 2,5% evaluation exercises conducted during the skills lab.

- Midterm exam: 15%

  • A 30 questions test-type exam with 4 answer options with a penalty of -0.33 points for the wrong answer.

- Final exam: 80%

  • A 50 questions test-type exam Twith 4 answer options with a penalty of -0.33 points for the wrong answer.

Final grade: Weighted sum of Skills Lab (5%) + Midterm Exam (15%) + Final Exam (80%)

Bibliography and resources

Reference books:
  • Farreras-Rozman : Medicina Interna. Capitulos correspondientes a oncologia.
  • Harrison. Principios de Medicina Interna. Capitulos correspondientes a oncologia
  • Provencio M.  Oncologia para estudiantes de Medicina. Ediciones Aran. Madrid 2012
  Reference Websites: 
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