Prostate Cancer Gleason Score Lesson Plan for 12th Grade Students

Topic: Prostate cancer biopsies and Gleason score

Objectives & Outcomes

• Understand the purpose of the Gleason score in prostate cancer biopsies
• Be able to calculate the Gleason score from a prostate cancer biopsy histological slide

Materials

• Prostate cancer biopsy histological slide
• Calculator
• Gleason score calculator (optional)

Warm-Up

• Have students brainstorm a list of questions they have about the Gleason score. Write their questions on the board.
• Ask a few students to share their questions with the class.
• Answer the questions as a class.

Direct Instruction

• Explain that a prostate biopsy is a procedure used to diagnose prostate cancer. It involves taking small samples of tissue from the prostate and examining them under a microscope to look for abnormalities that may indicate cancer.
• Show the class images of a prostate biopsy and explain the different grades that can be assigned to the tissue samples.
• Explain how the Gleason score is calculated. It is based on the pattern and grade of the tumor samples. There are five different patterns (1 to 5) and each pattern can be given a score from 1 to 5. The higher the score, the more aggressive the cancer is.
• Explain how the Epstein score is calculated. It is based on the grade of the tumor samples and the degree of tumor infiltration (how far the cancer has spread into the surrounding tissue). The score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more aggressive cancer.
• Explain how the Gleason score and Epstein score are used to determine the stage and treatment plan for prostate cancer.

Direct practice

• Have the class work in small groups to complete a worksheet that asks them to calculate a Gleason score and an Epstein score based on the grades and patterns of tumor samples.
• Have the class share their answers and discuss any questions they may have.

Independent practice

• Have the class work on a project-based activity where they must calculate a Gleason score and an Epstein score for hypothetical prostate cancer biopsies. This could be a written report, a presentation, or a computer simulation.

Closure

• Review the main points of the lesson, including what the Gleason score and the Epstein score are, how they are calculated and what they are used for.
• Ask students to share their project-based activity and discuss the results.

Assessment

• Observe students during the guided and independent practice activities to assess their understanding of the material.
• Collect and grade the projects completed for the independent practice activity.
• Give a quiz or test to assess students' knowledge of the Gleason score and the Epstein score, how they are calculated and what they are used for.