Over 500,000 people in the United States and over 8 million people worldwide are dying every year from cancer. As people live longer, the incidence of cancer is rising worldwide and the disease is expected to strike over 20 million people annually by 2030. This open course is designed for people who would like to develop an understanding of cancer and how it is prevented, diagnosed, and treated.
Introduction to the Biology of Cancer
This course is part of Cancer Biology Specialization
Instructor: Kenneth J. Pienta, M.D.
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There are 6 modules in this course
In this first week, we'll get a high-level introduction to the basics of cancer biology as well as incidence and common types of cancer.
What's included
5 videos4 readings1 assignment
Now, we'll turn our attention to the genetics of cancer, variation and mutation, two-hit hypothesis, and genomic instability.
What's included
4 videos1 assignment
All cancers share ten cellular hallmarks. This week, you'll learn to identify these hallmarks in order to distinguish a normal cell from a cancerous cell.
What's included
4 videos1 assignment
The lethal agent of cancer is metastasis. This week, we'll take a good look at this deadly event, TNM staging, the metastatic process, and an ecological paradigm.
What's included
5 videos1 assignment
This week, we'll examine imaging as a tool for diagnosis, staging, and treatment of cancer.
What's included
5 videos1 assignment
In this final week, we'll examine the variety of treatment options available to doctors and patients as well as the features of clinical trials and how they are used to improve the treatment arsenal.
What's included
9 videos1 reading2 assignments
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Recommended if you're interested in Basic Science
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology(KAIST)
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Reviewed on May 8, 2020
Brilliant! I loved it! Learnt a lot, helps me in my field of Artificial Intelligence by understanding what cancer really means. Helps me empathize with the challenges at hand better. Thank you.
Reviewed on Sep 12, 2017
Thoroughly enjoyable course that covered some of the molecular biology and pharmacological management of cancer. Definitely gave me a heads up for my pathophysiology studies next semester!
Reviewed on Jun 5, 2020
It was a course of much interest. Everything is explained very simply. I have learned lot of important information. I am delighted to be able to do this online course at JOHNS HOPIKNS university.
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