|
Knowledge of the nature and expression profiles of tumor-associated markers is a crucial factor for the development of novel diagnostic approaches and cancer therapy. A whole range of modern approaches has been recently developed in the search for novel targets, including differential display (DD), serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE), Serological analysis of recombinant cDNA expression libraries (SEREX), proteome analysis and DNA microarrays.
This Lecture and Practical course is designed to provide for the participants:
a) a comprehensive overview on modern approaches, used for the development of novel targets for cancer therapy (Lecture course)
and
b) a practical experience in the use of one of these techniques — SEREX methodology (Practical course).
The lecture course will focus on following topics:
a) modern approaches in the search for novel tumor-associated markers;
b) immunosurveillance and cancer;
c) tumor-associated antigens: classification and functional analysis;
d) future prospects of cancer immunotherapy.
During the practical course, the participants will get hands-on experience in SEREX methodology, including:
a) generation and screening of phage expression libraries, prepared from tumor samples;
b) affinity purification of sera samples, used for screening of generated libraries;
c) isolation and characterisation of positive clones;
d) searching of various DNA and protein databases, including SEREX databank.
Official language of the course: English.
Number of invited lectures and tutors: 11.
Lecture course: 150 people.
Number of participants for practical course is limited to 15 in order to maximise the effectiveness of hands-on experience in SEREX methodology.
The participants will be chosen based on the basis of their academic and/or research backgrounds, taking into account the relevance of the course to their needs and career development. At the beginning of the course, each participant will deliver a short (one slide, up to 5 min) self-introduction to the other participants. No poster session is planned, but participants are encouraged to bring their recent poster presentations.
It is expected that the course will be of particular interest for young researchers from the Former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.
No registration is required for the lecture course. Registration fee for lecture and practical course: 375 Euro.
Deadline for applications was April 25, 2002.
| 
