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This course develops content knowledge in cancer biology by building the scientific understanding and instructional strategies needed to design and facilitate inquiry-based learning experiences for high school students. Participants gain a foundational understanding of the biological processes disrupted during cancer development, including cell cycle regulation, DNA damage and repair, genetic mutations, and cellular communication pathways, and examine how these molecular changes enable cancer cells to grow, survive, and spread. The course emphasizes translating complex biomedical concepts into developmentally appropriate instruction, supporting effective scientific communication with students and authentic integration of cancer biology into the secondary classroom. In addition to exploring the core mechanisms of tumor initiation and progression, participants are introduced to essential experimental approaches used in modern cancer research laboratories, providing the background needed to engage in laboratory research and bring those experiences into their teaching. Emerging topics, including the tumor microenvironment and the scientific principles underlying current cancer therapies, are also examined to provide a comprehensive foundation for teaching contemporary cancer biology. 

Objective 1. Cancer Biology Fundamentals: Learners will be able to describe the basic biological mechanisms underlying cancer, including uncontrolled cell growth, mutations, and the hallmarks of cancer.

Objective 2. Essential Vocabulary & Conceptual Frameworks: Learners will be able to define and correctly use key cancer biology terminology relevant to laboratory research (e.g., oncogene, tumor suppressor, metastasis, microenvironment).

Objective 3. Connecting Concepts to Lab Practice: Learners will be able to explain how foundational cancer biology concepts relate to common experimental approaches they may encounter in research labs. 

Objective 4. Classroom Application and Curriculum Design: Learners will be able to apply foundational cancer biology concepts and experimental approaches to develop engaging research activities and lesson plans for the high school classroom.

The Core Concepts in Cancer Biology course is designed for self-paced, asynchronous learning. Several resources are provided for each topic to ensure effective learning and long-term comprehension: 

1) Recorded Video Modules: These self-paced video modules introduce foundational concepts for each topic in the course and were presented by the section content creator. 2) Slide Decks: The slide deck is provided to allow learners to review the content on their own time and take notes while watching the recorded video lectures. Further, these slide decks are offered as useful examples for classroom content. At the end of each slide deck, there is a list of additional resources pertaining to each topic, including educational videos and peer-reviewed articles. 3) Learner Guides: These short, formative guides are designed to assess understanding of key concepts from each lesson. After reviewing the Learner Guide, learners are encouraged to complete a set of concept check questions designed to reinforce and extend foundational ideas.

The Core Concepts in Cancer Biology course was developed under the Students and Teachers Achieving cancer Research Together (START) Program funded through the National Cancer Institute Youth Enjoy Science (NCI YES) initiative at the University of Colorado Anschutz. The goal of the NCI YES START program is to empower educators, students, and the community by offering cancer research education, mentored research experiences, and engaging with the public about cancer risk and prevention.