Cancer Information -- Cancer Dictionary

Cancer Information

Cancer Dictionary

A33 monoclonal antibody: A type of monoclonal antibody used in cancer detection or therapy. Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-produced substances that can locate and bind to cancer cells.

abdomen (AB-do-men): The part of the body that contains the pancreas, stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder and other organs.

accelerated phase (ak-SEL-er-ay-ted): Refers to chronic myelogenous leukemia that is progressing. The number of immature, abnormal white blood cells in the bone marrow and blood is higher than in the chronic phase, but not as high as in the blast phase.

acetaminophen: A drug that reduces pain and fever (but not inflammation).

acetylcysteine: A drug usually used to reduce the thickness of mucus and ease its removal. It is also used to reverse the toxicity of high doses of acetaminophen. Also called N-acetylcysteine.

achlorhydria (a-klor-HY-dree-a): A lack of hydrochloric acid in the digestive juices in the stomach. Hydrochloric acid helps digest food.

acitretin: A drug used in cancer prevention that belongs to the family of drugs called retinoids. It is also used in the treatment of psoriasis.

acoustic (ah-KOOS-tik): Having to do with sound or hearing.

acridine carboxamide: DACA. A substance that is being studied as an anticancer drug. It belongs to the family of drugs called topoisomerase inhibitors.

actinic keratosis (ak-TIN-ik ker-a-TOE-sis): A precancerous condition of thick, scaly patches of skin. Also called solar or senile keratosis.

activate: In biology, to stimulate a cell in a resting state to become active. This causes biochemical and functional changes in the activated cell.

acupressure: The application of pressure or localized massage to specific sites on the body to control symptoms such as pain or nausea. Also used to stop bleeding.

acupuncture: The technique of inserting thin needles through the skin at specific points on the body to control pain and other symptoms.

acustimulation: Mild electrical stimulation of acupuncture points to control symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.

acute: Having the abrupt onset of symptoms and a short course; not chronic.

acute leukemia: A rapidly progressing cancer of the blood-forming tissue (bone marrow).

acute lymphoblastic leukemia: ALL. A quickly progressing disease in which too many immature white blood cells called lymphoblasts are found in the blood and bone marrow. Also called acute lymphocytic leukemia. Additional information about the childhood form of this cancer is available, including staging and treatment information. Information about the adult form of this cancer is also available.

acute lymphocytic leukemia: ALL. A quickly progressing disease in which too many immature white blood cells called lymphoblasts are found in the blood and bone marrow. Also called acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

acute myelogenous leukemia: AML. A quickly progressing disease in which too many immature blood-forming cells are found in the blood and bone marrow. Also called acute myeloid leukemia or acute nonlymphocytic leukemia.

acute myeloid leukemia: AML. A quickly progressing disease in which too many immature blood-forming cells are found in the blood and bone marrow. Also called acute myelogenous leukemia or acute nonlymphocytic leukemia. Additional information about the childhood form of this cancer is available, including staging and treatment information. Information about the adult form of this cancer is also available ( including staging and treatment information).

acute nonlymphocytic leukemia: A quickly progressing disease in which too many immature blood-forming cells are found in the blood and bone marrow. Also called acute myeloid leukemia or acute myelogenous leukemia.

acyclovir: An antiviral agent used to prevent or treat cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex infections that may occur when the body is immunosuppressed.

AD 32: An anticancer drug that belongs to a family of drugs called antitumor antibiotics. It is an anthracycline.

adenocarcinoma (AD-in-o-kar-sin-O-ma): Cancer that begins in cells that line certain internal organs and that have glandular (secretory) properties.

adenoid cystic cancer: A rare type of cancer that usually begins in the salivary glands.

adenoma (ad-in-O-ma): A noncancerous tumor.

adenovirus: A group of viruses that cause respiratory tract and eye infections. Adenoviruses used in gene therapy are altered to carry a specific tumor-fighting gene.

adjuvant therapy (AD-joo-vant): Treatment given after the primary treatment to make it work better. Adjuvant therapy may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or hormone therapy.

adrenal cortex, cancer of: see adrenocortical carcinoma

adrenal glands (ah-DREE-nal): A pair of small glands, one located on top of each kidney. The adrenal glands produce sex hormones and hormones that help control heart rate, blood pressure, the way the body uses food and other vital functions.

adrenaline: A hormone. Also called epinephrine.

adrenocortical carcinoma: Basic information about this type of cancer is available, as well as information on staging and treatment.

adverse effect: An unwanted side effect of treatment.

aflatoxins (AF-la-TOK-sins): Substances made by a fungus that is often found on poorly stored grains and nuts. Aflatoxins have been implicated as a factor in the etiology of primary liver cancer.

AFP: Alpha-fetoprotein. A protein normally produced by a developing fetus. AFP levels are usually undetectable in the blood of healthy nonpregnant adults. An elevated level of AFP suggests the presence of either a primary liver cancer or germ cell tumor.

AG3340: An anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called angiogenesis inhibitors. AG3340 is a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor. Also called prinomastat.

aggressive: A quickly growing cancer.

aggressive lymphoma: A quickly growing cancer that arises in the cells of the lymphatic system.

agonists: Drugs that trigger an action from a cell or another drug.

agranulocyte (A-gran-yoo-lo-SITE): A type of white blood cell; monocytes and lymphocytes are agranulocytes.

AIDS: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, the disease caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

aldesleukin: A colony-stimulating factor that stimulates the production of blood cells, especially platelets, during chemotherapy. It is a cytokine that belongs to the family of drugs called hematopoietic (blood forming) agents. Also called interleukin-2 or IL-2.

alendronate sodium: A drug that affects bone metabolism. It is used in treating osteoporosis and Paget's disease and is being studied in the treatment of hypercalcemia (abnormally high levels of calcium in the blood) and in treating and reducing the risk of bone pain caused by cancer. Alendronate sodium belongs to the family of drugs called bisphosphonates.

alkylating agents: A family of anticancer drugs that interferes with the cell's DNA and inhibits cancer cell growth.

allogeneic: Taken from different individuals of the same species.

allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (AL-o-jen-AY-ik): A procedure in which a person receives stem cells, the cells from which all blood cells develop, from a compatible, though not genetically identical, donor.

allopurinol: A drug that lowers high levels of uric acid (a byproduct of metabolism) in the blood caused by some cancer treatments.

allovectin-7: A compound used for immunotherapy.

alpha-fetoprotein (AL-fa-FEE-toe-PRO-teen): AFP. A protein normally produced by a developing fetus. AFP levels are usually undetectable in the blood of healthy nonpregnant adults. An elevated level of AFP suggests the presence of either a primary liver cancer or germ cell tumor.

alternative medicine: Practices not generally recognized by the medical community as standard or conventional medical approaches and used instead of standard treatments. Alternative medicine includes the taking of dietary supplements, megadose vitamins and herbal preparations; the drinking of special teas; and practices such as massage therapy, magnet therapy, spiritual healing and meditation.

altretamine: An anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called alkylating agents.

alum: A type of immune adjuvant (a substance used to help boost the immune response to a vaccine). Also called aluminum sulfate.

ALVAC-CEA vaccine: A cancer vaccine containing a canary pox virus (ALVAC) combined with the human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) gene.

alveoli (al-VEE-o-lye): Tiny air sacs at the end of the bronchioles in the lungs.

amifostine: A drug used as a chemoprotective drug to control some of the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

amikacin: An antibiotic drug used to treat infection. It belongs to the family of drugs called aminoglycoside antibiotics.

aminocamptothecin: An anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called topoisomerase inhibitors.

aminoglutethimide: An anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitors. Aminoglutethimide is used to decrease the production of sex hormones (estrogen or testosterone) and suppress the growth of tumors that need sex hormones to grow.

aminolevulinic acid: A drug used in photodynamic therapy that is absorbed by tumor cells; when exposed to light, it becomes active and kills the cancer cells.

aminopterin: An anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called antimetabolites.

amoxicillin: An antibiotic drug used to treat infection. It belongs to the family of drugs called penicillins or penicillin derivatives.

amphotericin B: An antifungal drug used to treat infection.

amputation (am-pyoo-TAY-shun): Surgery to remove part or all of a limb or appendage.

amsacrine: An anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called topoisomerase inhibitors.

amylase (AM-il-aze): An enzyme that helps the body digest starches.

amyloidosis: A group of diseases in which protein is deposited in specific organs (localized amyloidosis) or throughout the body (systemic amyloidosis). Amyloidosis may be either primary (with no known cause) or secondary (caused by another disease, including some types of cancer). Generally, primary amyloidosis affects the nerves, skin, tongue, joints, heart and liver; secondary amyloidosis often affects the spleen, kidneys, liver and adrenal glands.

anal cancer: Basic information about this type of cancer is available, as well as information on staging and treatment.

analgesics: Drugs that reduce pain. These drugs include aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen.

analog: In chemistry, a substance that is similar, but not identical, to another.

anaplastic (an-ah-PLAS-tik): A term used to describe cancer cells that divide rapidly and bear little or no resemblance to normal cells.

anastomosis (an-AS-ta-MO-sis): A procedure to connect healthy sections of tubular structures in the body after the diseased portion has been surgically removed.

anastrozole: An anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitors. Anastrozole is used to decrease estrogen production and suppress the growth of tumors that need estrogen to grow.

androgen suppression: Treatment to suppress or block the production of male hormones. Androgen suppression is achieved by surgical removal of the testicles, by taking female sex hormones, or by taking other drugs. Also called androgen ablation.

androgens (AN-dro-jens): A family of hormones that promote the development and maintenance of male sex characteristics.

anemia (a-NEE-mee-a): A condition in which the number of red blood cells is below normal.

anesthesia (an-es-THEE-zha): Loss of feeling or awareness. Local anesthetics cause loss of feeling in a part of the body. General anesthetics put the person to sleep.

anesthetics (an-es-THET-iks): Substances that cause loss of feeling or awareness. Local anesthetics cause loss of feeling in a part of the body. General anesthetics put the person to sleep.

anetholtrithione: A drug that may reduce the risk of development or progression of cancer.

angiogenesis (an-gee-o-GEN-eh-sis): Blood vessel formation. Tumor angiogenesis is the growth of blood vessels from surrounding tissue into a solid tumor. This is caused by the release of a chemical by the tumor cells.

angiogenesis inhibitor: A substance that may prevent the formation of blood vessels. In anticancer therapy, an angiogenesis inhibitor prevents the growth of blood vessels from surrounding tissue into a solid tumor.

angiogram (AN-jee-o-gram): An x-ray of blood vessels; the person receives an injection of dye to outline the vessels on the x-ray.

angiography (an-jee-AH-gra-fee): A procedure to x-ray blood vessels. The blood vessels can be seen because of an injection of a dye that shows up in the x-ray pictures.

angiosarcoma (AN-jee-o-sar-KO-ma): A type of cancer that begins in the lining of blood vessels.

anhydrovinblastine: An anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called mitotic inhibitors.

ansamycins: A group of anticancer drugs that belongs to the family of drugs called antineoplastic antibiotics.

anterior mediastinotomy (MEE-dee-a-stin-AH-toe-mee): A procedure in which a tube is inserted into the chest to view the tissues and organs in the area between the lungs and between the breastbone and spine. The tube is inserted through an incision next to the breastbone. This procedure is usually used to get a tissue sample from the lymph nodes on the left side of the chest. Also called the Chamberlain procedure.

anthracenediones: A subgroup of the family of anticancer drugs called anticancer antibiotics.

anthracycline: A member of a family of anticancer drugs that are also antibiotics.

anthraquinones: A family of anticancer drugs.

anti-CEA antibody: An antibody against carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), a protein present on certain types of cancer cells.

anti-idiotype vaccine: A vaccine made of antibodies that see other antibodies as the antigen and bind to it. Anti-idiotype vaccines can stimulate the body to produce antibodies against tumor cells.

antiandrogen therapy: Treatment with drugs used to block production or interfere with the action of male sex hormones.

antiandrogens (an-tee-AN-dro-jens): Drugs used to block the production or interfere with the action of male sex hormones.

antiangiogenesis: Prevention of the growth of new blood vessels into a solid tumor.

antibiotic (an-tih-by-AH-tik): A drug used to treat infections caused by bacteria and other microorganisms.

antibody (AN-tih-BOD-ee): A type of protein made by certain white blood cells in response to a foreign substance (antigen). Each antibody can bind to only a specific antigen. The purpose of this binding is to help destroy the antigen. Antibodies can work in several ways, depending on the nature of the antigen. Some antibodies destroy antigens directly. Others make it easier for white blood cells to destroy the antigen.

antibody therapy: Treatment with an antibody, a substance that can directly kill specific tumor cells or stimulate the immune system to kill tumor cells.

anticancer antibiotics: A group of anticancer drugs that block cell growth by interfering with DNA, the genetic material in cells. Also called antitumor antibiotics or antineoplastic antibiotics.

anticoagulant: Drugs that help prevent blood clots from forming. Also called blood thinners.

anticonvulsants (an-tee-kon-VUL-sants): Drugs that prevent, reduce, or stop convulsions or seizures.

antiemetics: Drugs that prevent or reduce nausea and vomiting.

antifungals: Drugs that treat infections caused by fungi.

antigen-presenting cell: APC. A cell that shows antigen on its surface to other cells of the immune system. This is an important part of an immune response.

antigen-presenting cell vaccine: A vaccine made of antigens and antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Also called APC vaccine.

antigens: Substances that cause the immune system to make a specific immune response.

antimetabolite: A chemical that is very similar to one required in a normal biochemical reaction in cells. Antimetabolites can stop or slow down the reaction.

antineoplastic antibiotics: A group of anticancer drugs that block cell growth by interfering with DNA, the genetic material in cells. Also called anticancer antibiotics or antitumor antibiotics.

antineoplastons: Substances isolated from normal human blood and urine being tested as a type of treatment for some tumors and AIDS.

antiparasitics: Drugs used to treat bacterial and parasitic infections and some cancers.

antisense c-fos: Synthetic genetic material that may slow or stop the growth of cancer cells.

antithymocyte globulin (an-tee-THIGH-mo-site GLOB-yoo-lin): A protein used to reduce the risk of or to treat graft-versus-host disease.

antivirals: Drugs used to treat infections caused by viruses.

anus (AY-nus): The opening of the rectum to the outside of the body.

APC vaccine: A vaccine made of antigens and antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Also called antigen-presenting cell vaccine.

aplastic anemia: A condition in which the bone marrow is unable to produce blood cells.

aplidine: An anticancer drug obtained from a marine animal.

apoptosis (ap-o-TOE-sis): A normal series of events in a cell that leads to its death.

areola (a-REE-o-la): The area of dark-colored skin on the breast that surrounds the nipple.

arginine butyrate: A substance that is being studied as a treatment for cancer.

arsenic trioxide: An anticancer drug that induces programmed cell death (apoptosis) in certain cancer cells.

arterial embolization (ar-TEE-ree-al EM-bo-lih-ZAY-shun): The blocking of an artery by a clot of foreign material. This can be done as treatment to block the flow of blood to a tumor.

arteriogram (ar-TEER-ee-o-gram): An x-ray of arteries; the person receives an injection of a dye that outlines the vessels on an x-ray.

arteriography (ar-TEE-ree-AH-gra-fee): A procedure to x-ray arteries. The arteries can be seen because of an injection of a dye that outlines the vessels on an x-ray.

asbestos (as-BES-tus): A natural material that is made up of tiny fibers. The fibers can cause cancer.

ascites (ah-SYE-teez): Abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen.

asparaginase: An anticancer drug that is an enzyme.

aspergillosis: An infectious fungal disease that occurs most often in the skin, ears, nasal sinuses and lungs of people with suppressed immune systems.

aspirate (AS-pi-rit): Fluid withdrawn from a lump, often a cyst, or a nipple.

aspiration (as-per-AY-shun): Removal of fluid from a lump, often a cyst, with a needle and a syringe.

aspirin: A drug that reduces pain, fever, inflammation and blood clotting. Aspirin belongs to the family of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents. It is also being studied in cancer prevention.

astrocytoma (as-tro-sye-TOE-mas): A tumor that begins in the brain or spinal cord in small, star-shaped cells called astrocytes.

asymptomatic: Having no signs or symptoms of disease.

ataxic gait (ah-TAK-sik): Awkward, uncoordinated walking.

atypical hyperplasia (hy-per-PLAY-zha): A benign (noncancerous) condition in which cells have abnormal features and are increased in number.

autoimmune disease: A condition in which the body recognizes its own tissues as foreign and directs an immune response against them.

autologous: Taken from an individual's own tissues, cells, or DNA.

autologous bone marrow transplantation (aw-TAHL-o-gus): A procedure in which bone marrow is removed from a person, stored and then given back to the person after intensive treatment.

autologous lymphocytes: A person's white blood cells. Lymphocytes have a number of roles in the immune system, including the production of antibodies and other substances that fight infection and disease.

autologous tumor cells: Cancer cells from an individual's own tumor.

axilla (ak-SIL-a): The underarm or armpit.

axillary (AK-sil-air-ee): Pertaining to the armpit area, including the lymph nodes that are located there.

axillary dissection (AK-sil-air-ee): Surgery to remove lymph nodes found in the armpit region.

axillary lymph node dissection: Surgery to remove lymph nodes found in the armpit region.

axillary lymph nodes: Lymph nodes found in the armpit that drain the lymph channels from the breast.

azacitidine: An anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called antimetabolites.

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This cancer dictionary is provided by the National Cancer Institute.