CURRICULUM


 

Attendance 1 

Module 1 

Module 2 

Attendance 2 

Module 3 

Module 4 

Attendance 3 

Total 

 Timetable 

 2013
7-10 April

2013
Feb/Mar 

2013
April/mid Jun 

2013
Mid June 

2013
Jun/Oct 

2013-2014
Nov/Mar 

2014
April 

14 months 

 Content

 CCL course + 
IOSI course
What's new in
lymphoid
neoplasias?

Bellinzona, CH

Topic 1
Basic research,
epidemiology and pathology

 Topic 2
Clinical trials,
diagnostics and therapy 

CCL course +
ESO course
and
Int. Conf. on
Malignant
Lymphoma
ICML

Ascona and
Lugano, CH

 Topic 3
Lymphoma
subtypes I

Topic 4
Lymphoma subtypes II 

CCL course
+
IELSG edu
and
ECCLU

Lugano, CH

 

 Workload

 25 hrs
In-person

20 units
60 hrs
Distance
learning
+ test

 30 units
90 hrs
Distance
learning
+ test

25 hrs
In-person

30 units
90 hrs
Distance learning
+ test 

30 units
90 hrs
Distance
learning
+ test 

25 hrs
In-person

75 hrs
In-person
+
330 hrs
Distance learning
405 hrs

 Credits

1 ECTS 

2 ECTS 

3 ECTS 

1 ECTS 

3 ECTS 

3 ECTS 

1 ECTS 

14 ECTS 

 

CCL:separate and specific seminar for Certificate of Competence in Lymphoma participants
  
IOSI course: join the course “What’s new in lymphoid neoplasias?” held by the Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland (IOSI - Bellinzona, Switzerland)  
  
ESO course: join sessions of the ESO Advanced Course on Leukaemia and Lymphoma (Ascona, Switzerland)
  
ICML:join educational sessions of the International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma (Lugano, Switzerland)
  
IELSG: join the clinical trial discussions and the educational session within the annual meeting of the International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group (IELSG) (Lugano, Switzerland)
 

 

ECCLU: join the Educational Cancer Convention Lugano (ECCLU): What`s new in Haemato-Oncology? (Lugano, Switzerland)
  
  

 Seminar/Module  Topics 

Units 

Workload
hours 

ECTS 

Comment 

 Seminar 1:

 CCL 

 IOSI 

 		  

 25

 1

 
 Programme overview

 

  

 

 E-learning platform introduction    
 Molecular biology     
 Practical workshop on gene expression profiling,  comparative genomic hybridisation, next generation  sequencing, general molecular technologies    
 Lymphoma pathology and classification     
 Immune system and lymphoma    
 Good Clinical Practice – training    
 Design and interpretation of clinical trials
 and meta-analysis		    
 Module 1:

 Basic research,
 epidemiology
 and pathology
 of lymphoma		 

20

60 

2 

Test 

 Gene structure, gene expression and
 mutations in lymphoma

 2

   
 Micro RNAs and Lymphoma

 2

   
 Signalling pathways

 2

   
 Apoptotic pathways

 2

   
 Tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes

 2

   
 Microenvironment

 2

   
 Epigenetics

 2

   
 Immune system and lymphoma

 2

   
 Epidemiology

 2

   
 Pathology
 (morphology, immunophenotype, genetics, etc.)

 2

   

 Learning
 objectives

 Participants will:
• Update their knowledge in basic research, epidemiology and pathology of lymphoma.
• Update their knowledge concerning the biology of lymphoma, learn about genetic features of lymphoma, molecular targets in lymphoma and the role of the immune system on lymphoma development.
• Update their knowledge in the epidemiology of different lymphoid malignancies.
• Update their knowledge concerning distinct pathological measurements to diagnose lymphoma accurately and learn about different techniques and their diagnostic application .

 Module 2:

 Clinical trials,
 principles of
 diagnostic and
 therapy		 

 30

90 

3 

test (60q) 

 Design and interpretation of clinical trials,
 meta-analyses and systematic reviews:		 (6)   
 - Phases of investigation of new therapies

 1

   
 - Development of a protocol: 
   from idea to the protocol

 1

   
 - Development of a protocol: 
   writing a protocol

 1

   
 - Biobanking

 1

   
 - Meta-analysis

 1

   
 - Systematic reviews

 1

   
 Management of clinical trials:

 (6)

   
 - Planning and performance of clinical trials

 1

   
 - Evaluation and publication of clinical trials

 1

   
 - Selection of patients

 1

   
 - Sponsor responsibility

 1

   
 - Cost calculation and control,
   including funding

 1

   
 - Transfer of study results into
   clinical practice

 1

   
 Immunophenotyping (IP):

 (4)

   
 - IP for diagnosis

 2

   
 - IP for response assessment and
   MRD analysis

 2

   
 Imaging:

 (3)

   
 - Radiology
   (ultrasound, X-ray, CT scan, MRI)

 2

   
 - Nuclear medicine
   (scintigraphy, PET, PET-CT)

 1

   
 Diagnostic procedures

 2

   
 Principles of therapy: chemotherapy,
 immunotherapy, targeted therapy

 2

   
 Principles of therapy: radiation therapy

 2

   
 Principles of therapy: radio-immunotherapy

 2

   
 Principles of therapy: autologous and
 allogenic transplantation, vaccination

 2

   
 Response criteria and follow-up schedules

 1

   
 Learning
 objectives		 Participants will:
• Acquire and develop effective skills to advance the practice of clinical research in lymphoma.
• Acquire the capability of analysing and evaluating contemporary issues in clinical research and in good-clinical practice.
• Update their knowledge concerning design and interpretation of clinical trials, systemic reviews and meta-analyses.
• Acquire skills on how to manage a clinical trial.
• Update their knowledge on how to manage lymphoma patients on an evidence-based approach and will be able to transfer the current evidence-based guidelines into daily clinical practice.
• Acquire state-of-the-art knowledge as recommended by international experts and guidelines and treatment protocols developed nationally and internationally.
• Learn about haematological diagnostic procedures (immunophenotyping).
• Learn about imaging techniques and their indications in lymphoma.
• Learn about distinct principles of therapy of lymphoid malignancies.
• Update their knowledge concerning response evaluation, response criteria and follow-up schedules.
 Seminar 2:
 CCL / ESO /
 ICML		  

 25

 1

 
 Module 3:

 Lymphoma
 subtypes
 Part I:

 Mature B-cell
 neoplasms		 

 30

 90

 3

Test (60q)

 CLL/SLL/B-PLL:

 (4)

   indolent
 - Pathogenesis and B-cell signalling

 1

   
 - First line treatment of CLL

 1

   
 - Treatment of relapsed / refractory CLL

 1

   
 - B-PLL

 1

   
 Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma
 (Waldenström´s Macroglobulinemia)

 2

   
 Hairy cell leukaemia

 2

   
 Follicular lymphoma

 2

   
 Marginal zone lymphoma (nodal
 and extranodal) (gastric and non-gastric MALT
 lymphoma, nodal marginal zone lymphoma,
 splenic marginal zone lymphoma)

 2

   
 Mantle cell lymphoma

 2

   
 Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma:

 (6)

   aggressive
 - Treatment of localised DLBCL

 1

   
 - Treatment of advanced-stage DLBCL

 2

   
 - Relapsed and refractory DLBCL

 1

   
 - Assessment of therapeutic response 
   in DLBCL

 1

   
 - Primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma

 1

   
 Burkitt lymphoma

 1

   
 Richter syndrome

 1

   
 Immunodeficiency associated lymphoma
 (EBV, HHV-8, HTLV-I, HIV, HCV)

 2

   
 Extranodal lymphoma (CNS, testes) 

 2

   
 Primary cutaneous B-cell lymphoma

 1

   
 B-cell proliferations of uncertain malignant
 potential

 1

   
 Plasma cell disorders

 2

   
 Learning
 objectives
 (Mod 3 and 4)		  Participants will:
• Acquire problem-solving-strategies through case discussions with respect to the individual and critical dimensions of treatment.
• Broaden the clinical skills in diagnosing mature B-cell neoplasms, PTLD, T-cell and NK-cell neoplasms and Hodgkin lymphoma.
• Be able to design and customise treatment plans for mature B-cell neoplasms PTLD, T-cell and NK-cell neoplasms and Hodgkin lymphoma.
• Understand clinical differences in the pathological processes and treatment.
• Be able to design and customise treatment plans for special subgroups of lymphoma patients.
 Module 4:


 Lymphoma
 subtypes
 Part II:

 PTLD,
 T-cell and
 NK-cell
 neoplasms
 and Hodgkin
 lymphoma		 

 30

90 

3 

Test (60q) 

 PTLD

 2

   
 T-PLL and T-LGL

 1

   
 Adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma

 1

   
 Mycosis Fungoides, Sezary syndrome,
 cutaneous T-cell lymphoma 

 1

   
 Peripheral T-cell lymphoma, non-cutaneous

 2

   
 Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type

 1

   
 Anaplastic large cell lymphoma, ALK positive
 and negative 

 1

   
 Hodgkin lymphoma (HL):

 (6)

   
 - Classical HL and nodular 
   lymphocyte-predominant HL

 2

   
 - Treatment of early-stage HL

 1

   
 - Treatment of advanced-stage HL

 1

   
 - Treatment of relapsed/refractory HL

 1

   
 - Long-term complications of HL therapy

 1

   
 Histiocytic and dendritic cell neoplasms

 2

   
 Mastocytosis

 1

   
 Gray zone lymphoma

 1

   
 Paediatric lymphoma

 2

   
 Tumour Lysis syndrome and renal problems

 2

   
 Lymphoma and rheumatologic disorders

 2

   
 Lymphoma and neurological disorders

 2

   
 Lymphoma in pregnancy

 1

   
 Lymphoma and fertility

 1

   
 Familiar lymphoma

 1

   
 Learning
 objectives
 (Mod. 3 and 4)		 Participants will:
• Acquire problem-solving-strategies through case discussions with respect to the individual and critical dimensions of treatment.
• Broaden the clinical skills in diagnosing mature B-cell neoplasms, PTLD, T-cell and NK-cell neoplasms and Hodgkin lymphoma.
• Be able to design and customise treatment plans for mature B-cell neoplasms PTLD, T-cell and NK-cell neoplasms and Hodgkin lymphoma.
• Understand clinical differences in the pathological processes and treatment.
• Be able to design and customise treatment plans for special subgroups of lymphoma patients.
 Seminar 3:
 CLL / IELSG / 
 ECCLU		 TBC 

25 

1 

Certificate
Exam
(110q)* 



Examination regulations (Module Tests and Certificate Examination)

At the end of each module participants have to pass a mandatory online test that has to be submitted to Ulm University. Only participants who passed the four tests will have access to the Certificate Exam at the end of the Programme.

Module Tests:

The written multiple-choice Module Test is deemed to have been passed if a minimum of 60% of the questions were answered correctly.

Module Tests are not graded and can be re-taken as often as necessary until the Test is passed.

Certificate Examination:

The Certificate Exam will be held using prepared Ulm University computers (not participants’ personal laptops) and it can only be taken at Seminar 3 of the Programme.

The written multiple-choice Certificate Examination is deemed to have been passed if a minimum of 60% of the questions were answered correctly. The grades are as follows:

1 = excellent, 90% or more;
2 = good, 80% or more but less than 90%;
3 = satisfactory, 70% or more but less than 80%;
4 = sufficient, 60% or more but less than 70%;
5 = insufficient, less than 60%.

The Examination is also deemed to have been passed if the number of questions answered correctly by the participant falls short of the average examination result for all first-time examinees for this examination by no more than 10% provided that the examinee answered a minimum of 50% of the questions correctly.

Failed Examination may be re-taken twice but only within the time of attendance of Seminar 3, or during the next Programme Seminar of the following cohort.