The Hallmarks of Cancer and Patient Care

A First-Year Ampersand Program

Examine cancer from molecule to bedside, connecting biological mechanisms with the realities of patient care.

Hallmarks of Cancer and Patient Care is a multi-semester program that explores cancer as both a biological disease and a human experience. Students build a strong foundation in the molecular and cellular mechanisms that drive cancer development, progression, and treatment, while also examining how advances in research shape diagnosis, therapy, and precision medicine. The program emphasizes the language of cancer—how scientists, clinicians, and patients understand and communicate about disease—and introduces students to the collaborative roles that make up modern oncology care. By integrating science, medicine, and patient-centered perspectives, the program provides unique opportunities for students interested in health-related fields.

In the News

The art and science of cancer care

A popular Ampersand program is preparing the physicians of the future to understand the scientific and social aspects of cancer.

Read the Story

How to Sign Up

Signing up for a First-Year Program is a structured process designed to help match you with a program that best fits your interests. Ampersand Programs require a short essay responding to a program-specific prompt.

If you plan to rank this Ampersand Program, prepare a 250-500 word essay that responds to the following prompt: Describe why you are interested in the biology and language of cancer. You can mention any type of interest: intellectual, cultural, scientific, personal, etc.

Learn More About Sign-Ups

Ampersand Program Courses

Semester 1: The Biology of Cancer Part I

Cancer is the second-leading cause of death worldwide. In spite of focused research efforts, cancer still poses a unique biomedical puzzle as it is now recognized that cancer is not a single disease, but rather a collection of many disorders with underlying mechanistic complexities that can affect most tissues in the human body. This interactive 1st-semester course provides an introductory overview of the biology of human cancers. We touch upon background topics in DNA structure and replication, gene regulation and transcription, protein synthesis, mutations and DNA repair, but the primary focus is on the genetic and molecular changes that normal cells undergo during transformation into malignant tumors. Part I highlights the central processes of a normal cell and how these become corrupted along the road of tumorigenesis. The course is a mix of lectures, student-led discussions/presentations, and activities.

Semester 2: The Biology of Cancer Part II

Cancer is poised to overtake heart disease as the number one cause of death in the United States and represents a significant burden to the U.S. health system. As such, a deeper understanding of the underlying biology of human cancers and their treatment modalities will be important for those pursuing a future in the health sciences. In this interactive 2nd-semester course, we will thoroughly explore eight central characteristics of cancer (known as the hallmarks of cancer), emphasizing the dysfunction of essential biological processes like cell proliferation, programmed cell death, energy metabolism, and immune surveillance. Classical diagnosis and treatment methods are compared with newer strategies, such as targeted and immune therapies. Finally, the growing role of personalized medicine and "omics" technologies in tumor classification, patient prognosis, and therapy are discussed. The course is a mix of lectures, student-led discussions/presentations, and activities.

Semester 3: The Language of Cancer

Words matter. This is especially true for the patients (and their families) who hear the diagnosis “cancer,” but also so for the physicians who treat these patients, and for the academic researchers who are seeking better treatments. We will begin by considering Illness as Metaphor, the influential 1978 work in which Susan Sontag claims that metaphorical language distorts our understanding of cancer and other illnesses. We will move on to consider both the diction and syntax used with cancer in a sampling of academic papers, creative works, and long-form personal writings. Students will write both analytical and reflective pieces responding to those materials. They will also learn to read, interpret, and assemble presentations from biomedical research. A number of presentations over the course of the semester will allow students to develop the skills in oral communication essential to careers in health care.

Semester 4: The People of Cancer

It's news no one wants to hear: You have cancer. A cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming. The physical and emotional effects that come with this disease and its treatment can be significant. People often need the experience and skills of several different medical specialists to navigate and treat cancer. The various medical professionals involved in cancer care make up the oncology healthcare team. In this final semester, we will partner with Siteman Cancer Center and its affiliates to explore the multitude of professions that constitute the oncology healthcare team. In bi-weekly rotations, students will be introduced to various aspects of cancer-patient treatment and management through members of the oncology healthcare team, including oncologists, pathologists, surgeons, clinical geneticists, nurses, psychologists, public health professionals, and more. Students will also deepen their understanding of patient care through a collaboration with Siteman Cancer Center’s Survivorship program.

Anthony Smith

Senior Lecturer & Coordinator of Undergraduate Research Experiences

anthony.j.smith@wustl.edu
314 935-4998

Jennifer Arch

Teaching Professor in English

jarch@wustl.edu
314-935-8721

Rochelle Hobson, RN, MSN, CHPN

Manager of Siteman Cancer Center’s Survivorship program
Email: rhobson@wustl.edu
Phone: 314-454-8064

Emily Panio-Brenneman, RN

Coordinator for the Arts + Healthcare program, BJC
Email: emily.paino-brenneman@bjc.org
Phone: 314-362-0000

Student Testimonials

Student Testimonials after semesters one and two

Zoey Scher, Fashion Design major

The Biology of Cancer is both my favorite course that I have taken so far here at WashU, and the most interesting, especially as I am on the pre-med track. I am so glad that I took this course as I feel it provided me with an incredibly strong introduction into some of the pathways, mechanisms, and basic foundations I will need to know to pursue my intended career path. The course covers a large breadth of information, but it never felt overwhelming or overly difficult because of the light-hearted, constructive, collaborative environment that was fostered in the classroom. Since taking this course, I feel significantly more prepared to move forward in the oncology field and am much more certain that this path is what’s right for me.

Lojain Elkhidir, Biology major and Psychological & Brain Sciences and Medical Humanities minors

The Biology of Cancer has been my favorite course I've taken at WashU so far! This course offers a unique opportunity to develop a nuanced understanding of cancer biology by addressing a wide variety of topics, from the hallmarks of cancer to diagnosis to treatment. I truly appreciated how this course went above and beyond to explore the implications of what we were learning for modern day research in oncology. For someone considering pursuing the pre-health path, I would highly recommend this Ampersand program. Not only will you learn so much, but it provides a space for individuals who share a passion and interest in oncology to interact and learn from each other!

Student Testimonials after semester three

McKenzie Halpert, Biology major and Psychological & Brain Sciences minor

Whether you are looking to gain experience evaluating innovative research, dive into the realm of novel cancer treatment, or experience the camaraderie of a small class setting, The Hallmarks of Cancer & Patient Care has it all! The course’s group project-based curriculum facilitates collaboration and engagement while giving students the freedom to explore fascinating topics in oncology research that spark their interest. Joining this Ampersand program was one of the best decisions that I made at WashU. I couldn't wait to attend class each week as the instructors are phenomenal, the content is intriguing, and the environment is beyond supportive and welcoming. From the third semester of this program, I’ve been able to gain a much greater understanding of the holistic nature of cancer and its pioneering treatments as well as hone critical thinking, communication, and teamwork skills that have helped me even beyond the course.

Will Leidig, Neuroscience major and Jazz Studies minor

The most crucial skill I gained from The Hallmarks of Cancer & Patient Care was being able to read and interpret medical research papers. Understanding the how and why of the experiments and the implications of their results has enabled me to independently learn about cancer and other diseases and apply that knowledge to my own research. This course gave me the opportunity to explore areas of cancer research I was interested in and accurately communicate the information in a professional format. I feel that I could not have gotten as far as I have in my research at the school of medicine and Siteman Cancer Center if it were not for the scientific competency I acquired in this program.

Student Testimonials after semester four

Taylor Holt, Genomics & Computational Biology major and Psychological & Brain Sciences minor

The Hallmarks of Cancer and Patient Care is an Ampersand program that is filled with great opportunities and experiences, and this is especially true during the final semester of the program. I found each day to be very exciting as I was given the chance to learn from a wide range of professionals in the field of oncology. This course also provided me with incredible experiences such as touring a pathology lab and learning how to do sutures from a surgical oncologist. Hearing about the general responsibilities and daily routines of the healthcare team, in addition to participating in art therapy with cancer patients, helped solidify my aspiration to be a physician. Another aspect of this course that I enjoyed is that it perfectly concluded the previous semesters in the sense that it helped me see how the knowledge I gained regarding cancer biology and research related to patient care.

Aditya Waddodagi, International Affairs and Economics majors

The Hallmarks of Cancer and Patient Care has been a program like no other in my time so far at WashU. The first two semesters quickly immersed me into the ins and outs of the biological mechanisms of cancer. Some topics that we studied include molecular features in normal cells, cancer genetics, and the hallmarks of cancer (the capabilities gained by cells as they progress from normalcy to cancerous). Over a matter of months, I went from an incoming freshman, whose understanding of cancer only extended to it being a deadly disease, to developing an impressive toolkit of knowledge with which I could truly appreciate its complexity. In the third semester, we put this toolkit to use through group-based interpretations of oncological research papers. Presenting these frontiers of cancer to the class and being able to answer their questions became an exciting and fulfilling experience. Presenting a topic requires you to know concepts at a high level which not only bolstered my confidence but also brought me closer to my peers in the class. Through our final semester of the program, we were exposed to the human side of cancer. This ranged from visiting the pathology and radiology departments at the School of Medicine to participating in Art Therapy Support Groups with patients battling cancer to listening to a breadth of healthcare professionals talk about their work as it relates to the illness. These last few months filled me with admiration for the patients and professionals and optimism for the future of cancer treatment. I now realize the sheer variety of ways that one can make an impactful difference in the field of oncology. From beginning to end, the program’s comprehensive approach introduces students to the field of oncology and gives them lifelong memories along the way.