Fundaments of Toxicology and Cancerogenesys

Objectives of the course

In the first part, termed toxicology and genetic toxicology, the course will give the basics for the understanding of the toxicology, explain how the chemicals influence on organisms and how are they linked with health, mainly human health. The basic principles on the activity of toxic substances, such as the entrance in the organism, behaviour in the organism, the effects on target organs, and effects on cell function, will also be given. The effect of mutagenetic and cancerogenetic substances with long-term and irreparable consequences, will be separately discussed. The students will learn how to use data for the evaluation and prevision of toxic effects, and how to use the data to estimate the risk for humans and ecosystems when exposed to toxic substances in the environment.

In the second part, termed cancerogenesys and tumour development, the students will be informed about the basic principles in the formation of changed eucariotic (human) cell, its differentiation and development of malignancy. The course covers also tumour biology and offers the basis for the understanding of beginning, progressing and metastatic development of cancer diseases. The principle of the equilibrate mechanism of action of all genetic (and proteinous) components of the cellular metabolism, important for the normal cellular function, will be specially emphasised. In addition we will present the therapeutic and preventive measures, with which we can prevent or extenuate this characteristic environmentally caused disease: from irradiation, chemotherapy, hormonal, diet and immunologic therapy to modern genetic treatment.

Prerequisites

Knowledge in biology and molecular biology (zoology, botany and microbiology), plus organic chemistry and biochemistry. This knowledge the students receive in 1st and 2nd year of study at Environmental Sciences programme.

Assessment methods

Successful completion of exercises. Successful completion of seminar paper. Examination.

Course contents

The course covers topics such as: Fundaments of Toxicology and Genetic Toxicology, Cancerogenesys and Tumour Development.

Recommended reading

A: Selected chapters from:

• Ballantyne, B., T. Marrs in P. Turner (Eds.): General and Applied Toxicology. Macmillan, London, 1993
• Duffus, J.H. in Worth G.J. (Eds): Fundamental Toxicology for Chemists. The Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, UK, 1996. (ISBN 0-85404-529-5)
• Li: Genetic Toxicology. (Ed: Li, .. CRC Press LLC, 1991) ISBN-0-8493-8815-5

B:

• T. Lindahl: Genetic Instability in Cancer. (Ed. J. Tooze, Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory Press, USA, Cancer Surveys Vol 28), ISBN-0261-2429
• R.W. Rudon: Cancer Biology (Ed.: R W. Rudon, Oxford University Press, England, 3rd Edition, 1995,), ISBN- 0-19-509690
• I.F. Tannock and P.Hill Richard: The Basic Science of Oncology (Eds: Tannock, I.F. and Hilll, P.H., Pergamon Press International), ISBN-0-08-032389-8

Optional:

• review articles in scientific journals.