Department of Pathology, School of Clinical Medicine

PATH6200 Clinical and Molecular Pathology, Haematopathology, Immunology, and Clinical Cytology

Aim(s)

• To understand the basic principle and approach to diagnosis of various haematological disorders, including diseases of white cells, red cells and haemostatic system.
• To understand the basic principle of blood bank serology and clinical transfusion medicine.
• To introduce an overview of immunology and major topics in recent research advances and current techniques.
• To provide a solid coverage of basic concepts and techniques in immunology as well as several selected topics on cutting-edge research in the field.
• To provide students with the knowledge and applications of practical immunology, autoantibodies, immunochemistry and cell function.
• To discuss the genetic basis of cancer and implications for clinical diagnosis, prognostication and disease monitoring.
• To introduce the chromosomal abnormalities in tumour cells, methods for detection and their clinical significance.
• To provide students with in-depth understanding of the role of molecular genetics and genomics in (a) Diagnostic Molecular Pathology and (b) Investigative Molecular Pathology.
• To equip students to meet the high demand on the service of gynaecological cytology in Hong Kong.
• To discuss the application of molecular techniques in clinical cytology.
• To examine the peripheral blood and body fluids in haematology.

Contents

If there are insufficient students enrolling in any one Course, it may not be offered and the coordinator will advise the candidate to choose a related one.

Course Code	Courses	Credit Units
PATH6201	Blood cell and bone marrow pathology Lymphoproliferative neoplasms Myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukaemia Myeloproliferative neoplasms Approach to bleeding disorder Red cells disorders: overview and non-malignant disorders The haemopoietic system White cells disorders: overview and non-malignant disorders Basic blood bank serology and transfusion in clinical practice	3
PATH6202	Current topics and techniques in immunology: Innate and adaptive immunity B and T cell development and function T cell subsets and functions T regulatory cells: generation and function Inflammation and cancer Infection and immunity Monoclonal antibody technology and flow cytometry Stem cells and their immunoregulatory function Immunohistochemistry in diagnostic pathology	3
PATH6203	Gynaecological cytology CPC: Colposcopy and cervical pathology Normal anatomy and common pathology of female genital tract Practical on microscopy techniques: Full screening and rapid rescreening of cervical smears Reactive cellular changes and infections in cervical cytology Squamous cell abnormalities in cervical cytology Terminology and reporting system used in gynaecological cytology Application of new laboratory techniques including HPV testing Automation in cervical cytology Diagnostic problems and mimickers in cervical cytology Glandular cell abnormalities in cervical cytology Liquid based cytology Treatment-related changes in cervical cytology Quality assurance and organisation of a gynaecological cytology laboratory	6
PATH6204	Haematological cytology and ancillary techniques in cytopathology Application of immunohistochemistry to cytology Application of in-situ hybridization as ancillary test Application of genetic techniques in clinical cytology Automation in cervical cytology Examination of peripheral blood and body fluids in haematology Molecular detection of human papilloma virus	3
PATH6205	Molecular and clinical laboratory immunology methods and applications: Applications to allergic diseases Applications to autoimmune diseases Applications to immunodeficiency diseases Applications to monoclonal gammopathy Laboratory immunology - molecular, serological and cellular techniques Quality assurance and accreditation issues	3
PATH6206	Molecular genetics and cytogenetics of cancer: Molecular genetics of cancer: Genomic analysis Cancer genomic/genetic analyses for precision treatment Cancer epigenetics Conventional and molecular cytogenetics practice Hypoxia and cancer Gynaecological tumours and gestational trophoblastic disease Haematological malignancy Acute leukaemia Myeloproliferative neoplasms Liver cancer Molecular basis and characterization of new genes Molecular pathogenesis of liver cancer Molecular genetics of lung cancer Nasopharyngeal carcinoma - molecular aspects and relationship to EBV Paediatric sarcomas and other soft tissue tumours	6
PATH6207	Techniques and applications of molecular pathology: Defects in DNA mismatch repair and colonic cancer DNA and its impact on human ID DNA methylation study and its association with cancer Genetic screening for cancer susceptibility Familial colorectal cancer Breast and ovarian cancer Molecular detection of genetic alterations in solid tumours Molecular diagnosis of malignant lymphoma Molecular haematology Globin disorders Bleeding and thrombotic disorders Next generation sequencing and its clinical application Molecular pathology of virus related diseases Epstein Barr virus Human papilloma virus practical approaches to DNA array technology Role of molecular pathology in the diagnosis of diseases	6

Learning outcomes

On completion of these courses, students will be able to:

• summarise the different types of haematological diseases.
• describe the pathophysiology of haematological diseases.
• describe the approach in laboratory investigation of haematological diseases.
• apply the knowledge for differential diagnosis.
• learn the basic concept of blood bank serology and clinical transfusion medicine.
• describe and summarise the following concepts and methods of investigation: innate and adaptive immunity; B and T cell development and function; regulatory B cells and autoimmunity; monoclonal antibody technology, flow cytometry; T regulatory cells: generation and function; T cell subsets and functions; immunohistochemistry in diagnostic pathology; and immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy.
• demonstrate the ability to self study and participate in intense group discussion.
• write an essay in one's own language and make PowerPoint presentation on the essay topic.
• describe basic immunology laboratory techniques; basic and advance immunochemistry, autoantibody and immune cell function tests; quality assurance and accreditation issues.
• apply the immunochemistry; autoanibody and immune cell function tests to the management of autoimmune diseases, allergic diseases, immunodeficiency and monoclonal gammopathy.
• describe the various classes of genes which may be altered in tumour cells.
• explain the types of genetic changes which are found in cancer and its clinical applications.
• summarise the evidence for the multistep evolution of cancer.
• explain the evidence for genetic susceptibility of cancer.
• demonstrate a working knowledge of cytogenetics nomenclature.
• compare the various laboratory techniques available for the identification of cytogenetic changes in tumour cells.
• recognise basic chromosomal changes in leukaemias and solid tumours.
• explain the clinical applications of chromosomal analysis.
• describe the role of molecular genetics and genomics in assisting diagnosis of tumours, genetic testing for familial cancers, susceptibility to cancers, and study of molecular pathogenesis of various tumours.
• describe the organisation and quality control of a cervical cytopathology laboratory.
• describe the principles of cervical cytology reporting.
• describe the application of ancillary laboratory techniques including liquid based cytology preparation, computer assisted screening and molecular biology.
• apply ancillary tests to the study of blood cells.
• apply immunohistochemistry to cytology.
• apply in-situ hybridization to cytology.
• interpret the result of molecular detection of human papilloma virus.
• describe automation in cervical cytology.

Mode of teaching

Lectures, Tutorials, Practical, Essay writing, Laboratory visit and Presentations

Assessment

In-course assessment and Final examination