Cancer Information -- Cancer Dictionary

Cancer Information

Cancer Dictionary

D-20761: A synthetic luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) antagonist that suppresses LH and sex steroid levels.

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

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

daclizumab: A monoclonal antibody that is being studied for treatment of adult T-cell leukemia. Also called dacliximab. Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-produced substances that can locate and bind to cancer cells.

dactinomycin: An anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called antitumor antibiotics.

dalteparin: A drug that helps prevent the formation of blood clots; it belongs to the family of drugs called anticoagulants.

danazol: A synthetic hormone that belongs to the family of drugs called androgens and is used to treat endometriosis. It is being evaluated in the treatment of endometrial cancer.

daunorubicin: An anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called antitumor antibiotics.

decapeptyl: Belongs to the family of drugs called luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists. Used to block hormone production in ovarian ablation.

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

deferoxamine: An iron-chelating agent that removes iron from tumors by inhibiting DNA synthesis and causing cancer cell death. It is used in conjunction with other anticancer agents in pediatric neuroblastoma therapy.

defibrotide: A drug under study for the prevention of veno-occlusive disease, a rare complication of high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation in which small veins in the liver become blocked.

dehydroepiandrosterone: DHEA. A substance that is being studied as a cancer prevention drug. It belongs to the family of drugs called steroids.

dendritic cell: A special type of antigen-presenting cell (APC) that activates T lymphocytes.

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

denileukin diftitox: A substance used to treat cutaneous T-cell lymphoma when other treatments have not worked.

dental implant: A small metal pin placed in the jaw. Dental implants can be used to help anchor dentures in patients who have undergone surgery to remove tumors in the mouth.

deoxycytidine: A drug that protects healthy tissues from the toxic effects of anticancer drugs.

DepoFoam-encapsulated cytarabine: The anticancer drug cytarabine formulated inside small particles of a synthetic lipid material called DepoFoam. This dosage form slowly releases the drug and provides a sustained action.

depsipeptide: Anticancer drugs obtained from microorganisms.

dermatitis: Inflammation of the skin.

dermatologist (der-ma-TAH-lo-jist): A doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of skin problems.

dermis (DER-mis): The lower or inner layer of the two main layers of tissue that make up the skin.

DES: Diethylstilbestrol. A synthetic hormone that was prescribed from the early 1940s until 1971 to help women with complications of pregnancy. DES has been linked to an increased risk of clear cell carcinoma of the vagina in daughters of women who used DES. DES may also increase the risk of breast cancer in women who used DES.

desmoid tumor: A tumor of the tissue that surrounds muscles, usually in the abdomen. Desmoid tumors rarely metastasize.

dexamethasone: A synthetic steroid (similar to steroid hormones produced naturally in the adrenal gland). Dexamethasone is used to treat leukemia and lymphoma and may be used to treat some of the problems caused by other cancers and their treatment.

dexrazoxane: A drug used to protect the heart from the toxic effects of anthracycline drugs such as doxorubicin. It belongs to the family of drugs called chemoprotective agents.

dextromethorphan acetic acid: An anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called angiogenesis inhibitors.

DHEA: Dehydroepiandrosterone. A substance that is being studied as a cancer prevention drug. It belongs to the family of drugs called steroids.

di-dgA-RFB4 monoclonal antibody: An anticancer drug that is a combination of a monoclonal antibody (RFB4) and an immunotoxin (dgA).

diabetes (dye-a-BEE-teez): A disease in which the body does not properly control the amount of sugar in the blood. As a result, the level of sugar in the blood is too high. This disease occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or does not use it properly.

diagnosis: The process of identifying a disease by the signs and symptoms.

diagnostic procedure: A method used to identify a disease.

diagnostic trial: A research study that evaluates methods of detecting disease.

dialysis (dye-AL-ih-sis): The process of cleansing the blood when the kidneys are not able to filter the blood.

diaphragm (DYE-a-fram): The thin muscle below the lungs and heart that separates the chest from the abdomen.

diathermy (DYE-a-ther-mee): The use of heat to destroy abnormal cells. Also called cauterization or electrodiathermy.

diaziquone: AZQ. An anticancer drug that is able to cross the blood-brain barrier and kill cancer cells in the central nervous system.

didanosine: A drug used to treat infection caused by viruses.

diethylstilbestrol (dye-ETH-ul-stil-BES-trol): DES. A synthetic hormone that was prescribed from the early 1940s until 1971 to help women with complications of pregnancy. DES has been linked to an increased risk of clear cell carcinoma of the vagina in daughters of women who used DES. DES may also increase the risk of breast cancer in women who used DES.

differentiation: In cancer, refers to how mature (developed) the cancer cells are in a tumor. Differentiated tumor cells resemble normal cells and grow at a slower rate than undifferentiated tumor cells, which lack the structure and function of normal cells and grow uncontrollably.

difluoromethylornithine: DFMO. An anticancer drug that has been shown to reduce the risk of cancer in animals.

digestive system (dye-JES-tiv): The organs that take in food and turn it into products that the body can use to stay healthy. Waste products the body cannot use leave the body through bowel movements. The digestive system includes the salivary glands, mouth, esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, small and large intestines and rectum.

digestive tract (dye-JES-tiv): The organs through which food passes when food is eaten. These organs are the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines and rectum.

digital photography: A type of photography in which images can be viewed on a computer screen.

digital rectal examination: DRE. An examination in which a doctor inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum to feel for abnormalities.

dihematoporphyrin ether: Used in photodynamic therapy, a drug that is absorbed by tumor cells; when exposed to light, it becomes active and kills the cancer cells.

dilation and curettage (dye-LAY-shun and kyoo-reh-TAHZH): D&C. A minor operation in which the cervix is expanded enough (dilation) to permit the cervical canal and uterine lining to be scraped with a spoon-shaped instrument called a curette (curettage).

dilator (DYE-lay-tor): A device used to stretch or enlarge an opening.

dimesna: A drug that belongs to the family of drugs called chemoprotective agents.

dimethylxanthenone acetic acid: An anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called angiogenesis inhibitors.

dipyridamole: A drug that prevents blood cell clumping and enhances the effectiveness of fluorouracil and other chemotherapeutic agents.

disease progression: Cancer that continues to grow or spread.

distant cancer: Refers to cancer that has spread from the original (primary) tumor to distant organs or distant lymph nodes.

disulfiram: A drug that slows the metabolism of retinoids, allowing them to act over a longer period of time.

diuretic: A drug that increases the production of urine.

diverticulosis: A condition marked by small sacs or pouches (diverticula) in the walls of an organ such as the stomach or colon. These sacs can become inflamed and cause a condition called diverticulitis, which may be a risk factor for certain types of cancer.

DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid. The molecules inside cells that carry genetic information and pass it from one generation to the next.

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

dolastatin 10: An anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called mitotic inhibitors.

donepezil: A drug used in the treatment of dementia. It belongs to the family of drugs called cholinesterase inhibitors.

dose-limiting: Describes side effects of a drug or other treatment that are serious enough to prevent an increase in dose or level of that treatment.

dose-rate: The strength of a treatment given over a period of time.

double-blinded: A clinical trial in which neither the medical staff nor the person knows which of several possible therapies the person is receiving.

douche (DOOSH): A procedure in which water or a medicated solution is used to clean the vagina and cervix.

Down syndrome: A disorder caused by the presence of an extra chromosome 21 and characterized by mental retardation and distinguishing physical features.

doxorubicin: An anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called antitumor antibiotics. It is an anthracycline.

doxycycline: An antibiotic drug used to treat infection.

DPPE: Belongs to a group of antihormone drugs.

dronabinol: A synthetic pill form of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), an active ingredient in marijuana that is used to treat nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy.

dry orgasm: Sexual climax without the release of semen.

DTGM fusion protein: An anticancer drug formed by the combination of diphtheria toxin and a colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). The colony stimulating factor is attracted to cancer cells and the diphtheria toxin kills the cells.

duct (dukt): A tube through which body fluids pass.

ductal carcinoma in situ (DUK-tal kar-sin-O-ma in SYE-too): DCIS. Abnormal cells that involve only the lining of a duct. The cells have not spread outside the duct to other tissues in the breast. Also called intraductal carcinoma.

dumping syndrome: A group of symptoms that occur when food or liquid enters the small intestine too rapidly. These symptoms include cramps, nausea, diarrhea and dizziness. Dumping syndrome sometimes occurs in people who have had a portion of their stomach removed.

duodenum (doo-o-DEE-num): The first part of the small intestine.

DX-52-1: An anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called antitumor antibiotics. It is an anthracycline.

DX-8951f: An anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called topoisomerase inhibitors.

dysplasia (dis-PLAY-zha): Cells that look abnormal under a microscope but are not cancer.

dysplastic nevi (dis-PLAS-tik NEE-vye): Atypical moles; moles whose appearance is different from that of common moles. Dysplastic nevi are generally larger than ordinary moles and have irregular and indistinct borders. Their color frequently is not uniform and ranges from pink to dark brown; they usually are flat, but parts may be raised above the skin surface.

dyspnea: Difficult, painful breathing or shortness of breath.

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This cancer dictionary is provided by the National Cancer Institute.