Basic Course in Molecular Pathology 2026

9.00

basic introduction to molecular biology 

Covered content: structure of DNA/RNA/proteins, cell cycle, transcription and translation, epigenetics, working mechanism of receptor tyrosine kinases, main downstream signaling transduction pathways (eg RAS-RAF-MAPK, PI3K-AKT), transcription factors, types of genetic alterations in cancer (SNV, CNV, fusion/rearrangement) an functional impact oncogene versus suppressor, driver versus passenger 

10.30

Break

10.45

DNA integrity control and DNA repair mechanisms

Covered content: biology of cell cycle control and overview of DNA repair mechanisms

11.20

DNA repair deficient types of cancer with link to familial cancer syndromes

Covered content: MMRd Lynch – sporadic, BRCAness, PARP synthetic lethality, HRD

12.10

Lunch

13.00

introduction to PCR and NGS 

Coverd content: working mechanism of PCR, principles of sequencing, types of sequencing platforms, difference between DNA and RNAseq

14.00

introduction tot NGS data analysis 

Coverd content: explanation of data analysis pipeline from raw data to variant calling, classification of variants, compermed pathogenic variant list 

15.00

practical exercises 

16.00

End

9.30

principle of IHC and FISH 

Covered content: working mechanisms of IHC and FISH, importance of controls, pre-analytical variables, QA aspects and test validation 

10.10

Break

10.30

immuno-oncology 

Covered content: biology of anti-tumour immune response, immune phenotypes.  PDL1, TMB, MSI from IO perspective 

11.30

introduction to clinical applications  

Covered content: role and working of compermed, difference with reimbursement, guidelines, theranostics vesus diagnostics. Role of the MOC and molecular tumour board 

12.00

Lunch

12.50

practical topics in molecular pathology: NSCLC 

Coverd content: overview of main molecular alterations and testing algorithm in NSCLC; role and technical aspects of liquid biopsy. 

13.30

practical topics in molecular pathology: CRC 

Coverd content: overview of main molecular alterations and testing algorithm in CRC 

14.30

practical topics in molecular pathology: hemato-oncology 

Covered content: role of molecular testing lymphoma, role of molecular testing in lymphoproliferative and myelodysplastic disease, use and interpretation of IgH/TCR clonality analysis 

15.10

practical topics in molecular pathology: brain tumors 

Covered content: overview of main molecular alterations and testing algorithm in diffuse astrocytoma; role and technical aspects of methylation profiling 

15.50

End