Reference no: EM133178472 , Length: word count:1500
Conceptual Review Coursework
Background: The hallmarks of cancer described by Hanahan and Weinberg have proved seminal towards understanding common traits relating to cancer. However, these influential papers and their fundamental concepts are not free of critique. Is it reasonable to reduce the complexity of cancer to a small number of underlying principles? This coursework is designed to stimulate and cultivate critical awareness of relevant literature and concepts at the forefront of the cancer field.
Aim: The main aim of this review is to understand different aspects of tumorigenesis that have come into clearer focus in the recent years, to attempt to draw a more organised and updated picture of the cancer hallmarks in relation to a chosen tumour type.
Diagrams and figures: The end goal should be the generation of an illustration encompassing the hallmark capabilities relating to a specific cancer. For the chosen tumour type, this may highlightthe hallmark concepts causing initiation, progression from a pre-cancer to cancer, and progression to metastasis. For some tumours this is still not fully known. For other tumours, this is well characterised. Breadth and depth of knowledge and understanding is fundamental in this review, evidenced by own independent insight.
Critical judgments about evidence/data: If the tumour type has a very specific therapy that is targeted to a hallmark of that tumour, then it should also feature in the review (examples of this would be Proteasome inhibitors and Myeloma, B-Raf inhibitors and B-Raf-Mutant melanoma, PARP inhibitors and BRCA1/2-associated Breast cancer). If no successful treatment exists beyond surgery, then clearly state this. If your tumour type has a clear genetic association with aggressive/non-aggressive disease, then include this in the review.
If your tumour type has been well discussed in the taught content, it is imperative that the review goes well beyond the lecture material. Examples where this important is Retinoblastoma, p53 (Li-Fraumeni syndrome) and some GI tract cancers (Wnt, microsatellite instability).
Support and Feedback:Opportunities are provided to discuss the coursework throughout the module. Feedback will also be provided on a first draft (formative) during the module.
Word count and referencing: The maximum word count is 1500. Footnotes, reference lists, tables and figures are not included in the word count.The review must be fully referenced throughout according to the APA style. More detail on APA referencing style