Prospectus

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Immunotherapy of Cancer

Course
2017-2018

Overview

In this half minor, students will learn the immunological principles and effective mechanisms of anti-cancer immunotherapies which are currently used in the clinic or under development, and why certain anti-cancer strategies give rise to serious side effects. In addition to non-specific stimulation of innate immunity, students will study antigen-specific approaches and how antibodies and T-lymphocytes can be exploited to combat cancer. Finally, the clinical value of allogeneic stem cell transplantation in which a healthy donor derived immune system is transplanted to treat leukemia or other hematological malignancies will be studied.

Learning goals

  1. Explain how interactions between different components of the immune system lead to a functional immune response (academic expert);
  2. Consider the balance between (potential) efficacy and toxicity to evaluate the value of different tumor antigens for immunotherapy of cancer by searching the literature and public databases (academic expert and collaborator);
  3. Estimate the contribution of different components of the innate immune system in anti-tumor responses and explain their potential application for therapy of cancer by searching the literature (academic expert, communicator);
  4. Relate the type of antigens and immunological responses as exploited in (novel) therapies of cancer to evaluate (potential) clinical benefits and undesired side effects for the patient in a comparative study of two articles (academic expert, communicator, collaborator);
  5. Deduce from a patients’ history which type (or failure) of immunological response may explain clinical behavior of the malignancy or occurrence of undesired side effects after therapy (medical expert);
  6. Translate the main message of a novel immunotherapy to a lay audience in the form of a newspaper article (communicator);
  7. Compare different immunotherapies, evaluate their (potential) benefits and threats and propose improvements (academic expert, communicator, collaborator).

Education styles

Lectures, workgroups, patient demonstrations, clinical cases, visit (out)patient clinic and laboratory visits

Assessment

Essay questions
The exam consists of 8 open questions (6 knowledge and 2 understanding), based on a pre-evaluated question and answer model. The mark constitutes 20% of the final mark.
Rating: mark 1-10
Assessed by: 2 minor teachers

Oral presentations
Two students prepare oral presentations in each of the modules on innate immunity (week 2-3), solid tumors (week 4-6), hematological malignancies (week 7-9) and final assignment (week 10).
Rating: mark 1-10
Assessed by: all teachers of workgroups with oral presentations (formative in week 1-3; summative in week 4-10). Oral presentations in solid tumors (1x), hematological malignancies (1x) and final assignment (1x) will be assessed by teachers in the half minor. The average mark of these four presentations will count for 20% of the final mark.
Assessment: an assessment form with rubrics for oral presentations has been developed. Each student will be assessed individually for his/her contribution to the oral presentation.

Literature study
The students will be divided in small groups (3-4) and choose a subject preparing a lecture on one of various subjects. During the course there will be coaching moments by the supervisors. Students will present their findings.
Rating: mark 1-10 (constitutes 20% of the final mark)
Assessed by: two coordinators of the half minor
Assessment criteria: an assessment form with rubrics for the literature study has been developed. Each student will be assessed individually for his/her contribution to the literature study.

Newspaper article
Students will receive a recent article on a novel immunotherapy and guidelines for writing a newspaper article with 6 topics (2 knowledge, 2 understanding, 2 communication) that should be addressed and considered. Students need to prepare a draft version individually, which will be discussed in a workgroup. The deadline for the final version is Friday at the end of week 9.
Rating: mark 1-10 (constitutes 10% of final mark)
Assessed by: two PhD students / staff members from dept. of Hematology
Assessment criteria: an assessment form with rubrics for writing a newspaper article including criteria for clear and intelligible language and adequate adherence to the topics of the guidelines.

**Clinical protocol (final assignment) **
Students have to design an improvement and write a clinical protocol on the basis of a recent article on a novel immunotherapy of cancer. Guidelines with topics that should be addressed and considered in writing a clinical protocol will be provided. This final assignment will be performed in groups of 2-3 students, and each group will receive an article on different immunotherapies (antibodies, adoptive T-cell therapy, vaccination, NK cells in autologous or allogeneic settings). The contribution of each student to the written clinical protocol should be clearly described in a final paragraph.
Rating: mark 1-10 (constitutes 30% of final mark)
Assessed by: two coordinators of the half minor 10
Assessment criteria: an assessment form with rubrics for a written clinical protocol including criteria for clarity and adequate addressing of the various topics as provided in the guidelines as well as for originality, feasibility and applicability of the improvement. Each student will be assessed individually for his/her contribution to the written clinical protocol.

ADDITIONAL TESTS

  1. Patient Information Form
    Assessment: Pass/Fail
    Assessed by: two coordinators of the half minor
    Assessment criteria: the patient information form will be assessed for clarity and adequate addressing of the various topics as provided in the guidelines.

  2. Participation in discussions Assessment: Pass/Fail Assessed by: all tutors of the workgroups. Assessment criteria: students will be assessed for active participation and communication with peers, capacity to develop and express a critical view and opinion on a new immunotherapeutic concept and design and propose suggestions for improvement.

  3. Debate on HPV vaccination
    Assessment: Pass/Fail
    Assessed by: coordinators of the half minor
    Assessment criteria: students will be assessed for clarity and consistency in the argumentation.

  4. Report on flow cytometry (visit to the research lab)
    Assessment: Pass/Fail
    Assessed by: coordinators of the half minor
    Assessment criteria: students will be assessed for knowledge and understanding of the methodology and presentation and discussion of the results.

  5. Report on morphological diagnosis (visit to the diagnostic lab)
    Assessment: Pass/Fail
    Assessed by: coordinators of the half minor
    Assessment criteria: students will be assessed for knowledge and understanding of the methodology and presentation and discussion of the results.

  6. Clinical cases
    Assessment: Pass/Fail
    Assessed by: coordinator of the half minor
    Assessment criteria: students will be assessed for understanding clinical responses after immunotherapy.

Examination committee: Dr. M.W. Schilham, Dr. M. Griffioen & Dr. M.I.E. van Poelgeest

Examination dates + debriefing date

  • Immunology Knowledge Exam (20%) on 13-Sept-17, debriefing on exam 20-Sept-17; Re-exam on 26-Sept-17, debriefing on re-exam 29-Sept-17.

  • Oral Presentations (20%): 1x in 28-Sept-17 until 13-Oct-17, 1x in 16-Oct-17 until 03-Nov-17, 1x on 10-Nov-17. Feedback using rubrics immediately after oral presentations. Debriefing on 24-Nov-17.

  • Newspaper Article (10%) on 03-Nov-17, debriefing on 24-Nov-17.

  • Literature Study (20%) on 09-Oct-17?, feedback using rubrics on 13-Oct-17, debriefing on 20-Oct-17.

  • Clinical Protocol (30%) on 10-Nov-17, debriefing on 24-Nov-17.

Literature

The immune system, 4th edition, Peter Parham, Garland Science 2015

Contacts

Marco W. Schilham
Pediatrics, basic scientist
071-526 4462
M.W.Schilham@lumc.nl

Marieke Griffioen
Hematology, basic scientist
071-526 5143
M.Griffioen@lumc.nl

Mariette van Poelgeest
Gynecology, medical doctor
071-526 4050
M.I.E.van_Poelgeest@lumc.nl