Module manager: Dr Alexander Garvin
Email: a.garvin@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
| BIOL2210 | Biological Membranes and Cell Signalling |
| BIOL2221 | Fundamentals in Cell and Cancer Biology |
| MICR2120 | Cell Biology of Disease |
BIOL3215 Cancer Biology
This module is not approved as a discovery module
Advanced Cancer Biology builds directly on BIOL2221 Fundamentals in Cell and Cancer Biology, taking your studies further into the molecular, genetic and cellular mechanisms that drive cancer. Teaching is delivered by experts spanning fundamental discovery research through to practising clinical oncologists, giving you a broad perspective on how research moves from lab to clinic. Throughout the module you will deepen your understanding of the core foundations of cancer biology, including: · What makes cancer cells different from normal cells and how these differences shape diagnosis and therapy. · The hallmarks of cancer, and the key molecular players such as oncogenes, tumour suppressor genes, and the signalling and DNA‑repair pathways they control. · The genetic and molecular basis of major cancer types, including haematological, breast, brain, childhood and hard‑to‑treat cancers. · How cancer treatment strategies work, from molecular targeted therapies and immunotherapy to chemotherapy and radiotherapy — and how emerging research informs new approaches. By the end of the module, you will have a clear, integrated understanding of how cancer develops at the molecular level and how this knowledge underpins modern diagnostics, experimental models and therapeutic strategies.
To provide an up to date and comprehensive account of the nature and processes of human cancers as well as current and novel therapies for cancer.
The origins and development of human cancers will be presented from a molecular and cell biology perspective.
Therapeutic approaches to cancer will be approached from the development of targeted drug therapies, immunotherapies and gene therapies.
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
1. Critically analyse how molecular alterations in cells disrupt signalling pathways, contributing to cancer initiation, progression, immune evasion, and resistance to therapy.
2. Evaluate the complexities and limitations of current cancer treatments and assess recent innovations and future directions in therapeutic development.
3. Design and deliver clear, well-structured outputs such as written and oral presentations on topics in cancer biology, integrating scientific evidence and demonstrating effective communication skills.
4. Critically evaluate primary scientific literature in cancer biology, identifying knowledge gaps, appraise strengths, limitations, and implications of experimental design.
5. Appraise the global societal impact of cancer and evaluate how cultural, socioeconomic, and healthcare system differences influence cancer prevention, screening, access to novel treatment strategies and survival outcomes. Understand and reflect on ethical concerns such as oncology research using animals.
This module will address:
- the main features of cancers and cancer cells and their relationship to disease; classification of cancers and implications for diagnosis and therapies.
- the common hallmarks of cancer, together with genes and proteins implicated in its control and their alteration/mutation/modulation in cancer cells.
- the differences between 'oncogenes' and 'tumour suppressor genes' and how these genes were identified.
- the variety of functions of oncogene and tumour suppressor gene products, including components of signal transduction pathways, transcription factors and proteins involved in DNA damage repair, the concept of checkpoints in the cell cycle and how these processes are subverted in cancer cells.
- how to read the primary literature of cancer research papers.
- the role of genes, gene mutations and gene expression a range of common haematological and solid cancers.
- develop concepts of cancer therapy by understanding, for example, gene therapy, immunotherapy and drug treatment.
- recent developments in cancer screening.
- specific cancer types will be covered in detail including haematological, brain, breast, childhood and cancers of unmet need.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supervision | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Revision Class | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Lectures | 29 | 1 | 29 |
| Seminars | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Private study hours | 167 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 33 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
· In-class active learning via in-person teaching will provide continual formative feedback opportunities throughout.
· Students will be provided with formative feedback and advice on their chosen research article one week ahead of delivering the summative presentation.
· The summative in-course assessment will be followed by a timetabled feedback session after the in-course assessment results are released. Feedback will be provided based on a combination of anonymised comments submitted by students via Minerva and suggestions from the academics involved in the in-course assessment.
· A final revision session will be provided before the second summative assessment to provide formative support and guidance on the essay style questions. This will be aligned to the learning objectives for the module.
· There will be revision question banks provided for all topics in the same style as the end-of-module summative assessment.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Presentation | To search, select and comprehend a recent (last five years) original research article. To link the findings of the research article with the first half of the module content, integrating taught concepts with cutting edge research. To practice delivering an oral presentation. To critique and conceptualise current research. | 30 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 30 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
| Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc) | 3.0 Hrs Mins | 70 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 70 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team