Cancer Dictionary

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G-CSF: Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. A substance that stimulates the production of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell. Also called filgrastim.

gadolinium texaphyrin: A substance that makes tumor cells more sensitive to radiation; it can also enhance tumor images using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Gadolinium texaphyrin belongs to the family of drugs called metalloporphyrin complexes.

gallbladder (GAWL-blad-er): The pear-shaped organ that sits below the liver. Bile is concentrated and stored in the gallbladder.

gallium nitrate: A drug that lowers blood calcium. Used as treatment for hypercalcemia (too much calcium in the blood) and for cancer that has spread to the bone (bone metastases).

gamma knife: Radiation therapy in which high-energy rays are aimed at a tumor from many angles in a single treatment session.

ganciclovir: An antiviral agent used to prevent or treat cytomegalovirus infections that may occur when the body's immune system is suppressed. In gene therapy, ganciclovir is used with an altered herpes simplex virus-1 gene to kill advanced melanoma cells and brain tumor cells.

gastrectomy (gas-TREK-toe-mee): An operation to remove all or part of the stomach.

gastric (GAS-trik): Having to do with the stomach.

gastric atrophy (GAS-trik AT-ro-fee): A condition in which the stomach muscles shrink and become weak. The digestive (peptic) glands may also shrink, resulting in a lack of digestive juices.

gastroenterologist (GAS-tro-en-ter-AHL-o-jist): A doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating disorders of the digestive system.

gastrointestinal (GAS-tro-in-TES-tih-nul): Refers to the stomach and intestines.

gastrointestinal tract (GAS-tro-in-TES-tih-nul): The stomach and intestines.

gastroscope (GAS-tro-skope): A thin, lighted tube used to view the inside of the stomach.

gastroscopy (gas-TRAHS-ko-pee): An examination of the inside of the stomach using a thin, lighted tube (called a gastroscope) passed through the mouth and esophagus.

geldanamycin analogue: An antineoplastic antibiotic drug that belongs to the family of drugs called ansamycins.

GEM 231: A drug that may inhibit the growth of malignant tumors.

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

gemtuzumab ozogamicin: 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.

gene: The functional and physical unit of heredity passed from parent to offspring. Genes are pieces of DNA and most genes contain the information for making a specific protein.

gene deletion: The total loss or absence of a gene.

gene therapy: Treatment that alters a gene. In studies of gene therapy for cancer, researchers are trying to improve the body's natural ability to fight the disease or to make the cancer cells more sensitive to other kinds of therapy.

gene-modified: Cells that have been altered to contain different genetic material than they originally contained.

genetic: Inherited; having to do with information that is passed from parents to offspring through genes in sperm and egg cells.

genetic counseling: A communication process between a specially trained health professional and a person concerned about the genetic risk of disease. The person's family and personal medical history may be discussed and counseling may lead to genetic testing.

genetic markers: Alterations in DNA that may indicate an increased risk of developing a specific disease or disorder.

genetic testing: Analyzing DNA to look for a genetic alteration that may indicate an increased risk for developing a specific disease or disorder.

genistein: A soybean product being studied for cancer prevention. It belongs to the family of drugs called enzyme inhibitors.

genitourinary system (GEN-ih-toe-YOO-rin-air-ee): The parts of the body that play a role in reproduction, getting rid of waste products in the form of urine, or both.

germ cell tumors: Tumors that begin in the cells that give rise to sperm or eggs. They can occur virtually anywhere in the body and can be either benign or malignant.

germ cells: The reproductive cells of the body, specifically, egg or sperm cells.

germinoma (jer-mih-NO-ma): The most frequent type of germ-cell tumor in the brain.

germline mutation: A gene change in the body's reproductive cells (egg or sperm) that becomes incorporated into the DNA of every cell in the body of offspring; germline mutations are passed on from parents to offspring. Also called hereditary mutation.

gestational trophoblastic disease: A rare cancer in women of child-bearing age in which cancer cells grow in the tissues that are formed in the uterus after conception. Also called gestational trophoblastic tumor, gestational trophoblastic neoplasia, molar pregnancy, or choriocarcinoma.

gestational trophoblastic neoplasia: A rare cancer in women of child-bearing age in which cancer cells grow in the tissues that are formed in the uterus after conception. Also called gestational trophoblastic disease, gestational trophoblastic tumor, molar pregnancy, or choriocarcinoma.

gestational trophoblastic tumor: A rare cancer in women of child-bearing age in which cancer cells grow in the tissues that are formed in the uterus after conception. Also called gestational trophoblastic disease, gestational trophoblastic neoplasia, molar pregnancy, or choriocarcinoma.

GI14721: An antitumor drug that belongs to the family of drugs called topoisomerase inhibitors. It is a camptothecin analogue.

gland: An organ that produces and releases one or more substances for use in the body. Some glands produce fluids that affect tissues or organs. Others produce hormones or participate in blood production.

Gleason score: A system of grading prostate cancer cells to determine the best treatment and to predict how well a person is likely to do. A low Gleason score means the cancer cells are very similar to normal prostate cells; a high Gleason score means the cancer cells are very different from normal.

glial tumors: A general term for many types of tumors of the central nervous system, including astrocytomas, ependymal tumors, glioblastoma multiforme and primitive neuroectodermal tumors.

glioblastoma (glee-o-blas-TOE-ma): A general term that refers to malignant astrocytoma, a type of brain tumor.

glioblastoma multiforme (glee-o-blas-TOE-ma mul-tih-FOR-may): A type of brain tumor that forms from glial (supportive) tissue of the brain. It grows very quickly and has cells that look very different from normal cells. Also called grade IV astrocytoma.

glioma (glee-O-ma): A cancer of the brain that comes from glial, or supportive, cells.

gliosarcoma: A type of glioma.

glottis (GLAH-tis): The middle part of the larynx; the area where the vocal cords are located.

glucocorticoid: A compound that belongs to the family of compounds called corticosteroids (steroids). Glucocorticoids affect metabolism and have anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects. They may be naturally produced (hormones) or synthetic (drugs).

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

glutamine: An amino acid used in nutrition therapy. It is also being studied for the treatment of diarrhea caused by radiation therapy to the pelvis.

GM-CSF: Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. A substance that stimulates the production of white blood cells, especially granulocytes and macrophages and cells (in the bone marrow) that are precursors of platelets. Also called sargramostim.

GM2-KLH vaccine: A substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies that fight certain cancer cells.

gonads: The part of the reproductive system that produces and releases eggs (ovaries) or sperm (testicles/testes).

goserelin: A drug that belongs to the family of drugs called gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues. Goserelin is used to block hormone production in the ovaries or testicles.

gossypol: An anticancer drug extracted from the cotton plant.

gp 100: Glycoprotein 100. A tumor-specific antigen used in the development of cancer vaccines.

GPX-100: An anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called antitumor antibiotics. It is an anthracycline.

grade: The grade of a tumor depends on how abnormal the cancer cells look under a microscope and how quickly the tumor is likely to grow and spread. Grading systems are different for each type of cancer.

grading: A system for classifying cancer cells in terms of how abnormal they appear when examined under a microscope. The objective of a grading system is to provide information about the probable growth rate of the tumor and its tendency to spread. The systems used to grade tumors vary with each type of cancer. Grading plays a role in treatment decisions.

graft: Healthy skin, bone, or other tissue taken from one part of the body and used to replace diseased or injured tissue removed from another part of the body.

graft-versus-host disease: GVHD. A reaction of donated bone marrow or peripheral stem cells against a person's tissue.

graft-versus-tumor: An immune response to a person's tumor cells by immune cells present in a donor's transplanted tissue, such as bone marrow or peripheral blood.

granisetron: A drug that prevents or reduces nausea and vomiting.

granulocyte (GRAN-yoo-lo-site): A type of white blood cell that fights bacterial infection. Neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils are granulocytes.

granulocyte colony-stimulating factor: G-CSF. A substance 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 filgrastim.

granulocytopenia: A deficiency in the number of granulocytes, a type of white blood cell.

groin: The area where the thigh meets the abdomen.

growth factors: Substances made by the body that function to regulate cell division and cell survival. Some growth factors are also produced in the laboratory and used in biological therapy.

GVHD: Graft-versus-host disease. A reaction of donated bone marrow or peripheral stem cells against a person's tissue.

gynecologic cancer (guy-neh-ko-LAH-jik): Cancer of the female reproductive tract, including the cervix, endometrium, fallopian tubes, ovaries, uterus and vagina.

gynecologic oncologist (guy-neh-ko-LAH-jik on-KOL-o-jist): A doctor who specializes in treating cancers of the female reproductive organs.

gynecologist (guy-neh-KAH-lo-jist): A doctor who specializes in treating diseases of the female reproductive organs.

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This cancer dictionary is provided by the National Cancer Institute.