Module 9.9a Infectious agents and cancer

Theoretical knowledge on the role of infectious agents in oncogenesis and long term dysregulation post-infection.

Ability to analyse cellular mechanisms dysregulated in pathogen-induced cancers.

The aim of the “Infectious Agents and Cancer” module is to explore the capacity of certain pathogens to induce the development of cancer. The list of such pathogens being rather limited, the molecular and cellular mechanisms leading to cancer by most of them are presented in details. Each pathogen, be it viral (hepatitis viruses, papillomaviruses or polyomaviruses,..) or bacterial (H. pylori), are presented by scientists in the field.

Before these presentations, introductory lectures to cell cycle and cell proliferation will be given so as to better understand the specific molecular interactions of these agents with the infected cell.

Finally, within the last few years, therapeutic advances, in particular the development of vaccines against several of these agents, led to the proposal of the anti-vaccine concept. When available, this concept is therefore presented by lecturers of this module.