Antibodies or parts of
antibodies found in unusually large amounts in the blood
or urine of people with multiple myeloma.
|
(MAK-ro-GLOB-u-li-NE-me-uh)
A condition in which the
blood contains high levels of large proteins and is too
thick to flow through small blood vessels. One type is
Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, which is a type of
cancer.
|
A type of white blood cell
that surrounds and kills microorganisms, removes dead
cells, and stimulates the action of other immune system
cells.
|
A form of cyclophosphamide
that can be administered as an intrathecal infusion.
Mafosfamide is being studied as an anticancer drug. It
belongs to the family of drugs called alkylating agents.
|
A gene found in some types
of tumors.
|
(mag-NET-ik REZ-o-nans
IM-a-jing)
MRI. A procedure in which
a magnet linked to a computer is used to create detailed
pictures of areas inside the body. Also called nuclear
magnetic resonance imaging.
|
Treatment that is given to
help a primary (original) treatment keep working.
Maintenance therapy is often given to help keep cancer
in remission.
|
A group of symptoms such
as gas, bloating, abdominal pain, and diarrhea resulting
from the body's inability to properly absorb nutrients.
|
A cancerous tumor that can
invade and destroy nearby tissue and spread to other
parts of the body.
|
(ma-LIG-nant)
Cancerous; a growth with a
tendency to invade and destroy nearby tissue and spread
to other parts of the body.
|
A condition in which fluid
containing cancer cells collects in the abdomen.
|
A sarcoma that usually
begins in soft tissue. It usually appears as an
enlarging, painful mass that can cause fracture due to
destruction of the bone by a spreading tumor.
|
A rare, quickly growing
tumor that occurs in the membranes that cover and
protect the brain and spinal cord (meninges).
|
A rare type of cancer in
which malignant cells are found in the sac lining the
chest or abdomen. Exposure to airborne asbestos
particles increases one's risk of developing malignant
mesothelioma.
|
A disorder caused by a
lack of proper nutrition or an inability to absorb
nutrients from food.
|
Mucosa-associated lymphoid
tissue lymphoma. A type of cancer that arises in cells
in mucosal tissue that are involved in antibody
production.
|
Having to do with the
breast.
|
(MAM-o-gram)
An x-ray of the breast.
|
(mam-OG-ra-fee)
The use of x-rays to
create a picture of the breast.
|
(MAN-tul)
The area of the neck,
chest, and lymph nodes in the armpit that are exposed to
radiation.
|
The edge or border of the
tissue removed in cancer surgery. The margin is
described as negative or clean when the pathologist
finds no cancer cells at the edge of the tissue,
suggesting that all of the cancer has been removed. The
margin is described as positive or involved when the
pathologist finds cancer cells at the edge of the
tissue, suggesting that all of the cancer has not been
removed.
|
An anticancer drug that
belongs to the family of drugs called angiogenesis
inhibitors. Marimastat is a matrix metalloproteinase
inhibitor.
|
A diagnostic indication
that disease may develop.
|
(mas-TEK-toe-mee)
Surgery to remove the
breast (or as much of the breast tissue as possible).
|
A nodule of mast cells.
Mastocytomas can involve the skin, subcutaneous tissue,
and sometimes muscle. Also called a mast cell tumor.
|
A member of a group of
enzymes that can break down proteins, such as collagen,
that are normally found in the spaces between cells in
tissues (i.e., extracellular matrix proteins). Because
these enzymes need zinc or calcium atoms to work
properly, they are called metalloproteinases. Matrix
metalloproteinases are involved in wound healing,
angiogenesis, and tumor cell metastasis.
|
A drug that belongs to a
family of drugs called ribonucleotide reductase
inhibitors.
|
A tumor that can be
accurately measured in size. This information can be
used to judge response to treatment.
|
An anticancer drug that
belongs to the family of drugs called alkylating agents.
|
Lymph nodes located above
the collar bone and between the center of the body and a
line drawn through the nipple to the shoulder.
|
A statistics term. The
middle value in a set of measurements.
|
The time from either
diagnosis or treatment at which half of the patients
with a given disease are found to be, or expected to be,
still alive. In a clinical trial, median survival time
is one way to measure how effective a treatment is.
|
(MEE-dee-a-stin-AHS-ko-pee)
A procedure in which a
tube is inserted into the chest to view the organs in
the area between the lungs and nearby lymph nodes. The
tube is inserted through an incision above the
breastbone. This procedure is usually performed to get a
tissue sample from the lymph nodes on the right side of
the chest.
|
(mee-dee-a-STYE-num)
The area between the
lungs. The organs in this area include the heart and its
large blood vessels, the trachea, the esophagus, the
bronchi, and lymph nodes.
|
Refers to the use of drugs
to suppress the function of the ovaries or testicles.
|
(on-KOL-o-jist)
A doctor who specializes
in diagnosing and treating cancer using chemotherapy,
hormonal therapy, and biological therapy. A medical
oncologist often serves as the main caretaker of someone
who has cancer and coordinates treatment provided by
other specialists.
|
A hormonal anticancer drug
that is also used in cancer prevention. It belongs to
the family of drugs called progestins.
|
(MED-yoo-LAIR-ee)
A rare type of breast
cancer that often can be treated successfully. It is
marked by lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) in
and around the tumor that can be seen when viewed under
a microscope.
|
(MED-yoo-LAIR-ee)
Cancer that develops in C
cells of the thyroid. The C cells make a hormone (calcitonin)
that helps maintain a healthy level of calcium in the
blood.
|
(MED-yoo-lo-blas-TOE-ma)
A malignant brain tumor
that begins in the lower part of the brain and can
spread to the spine or to other parts of the body.
Medulloblastomas are a type of primitive neuroectodermal
tumor (PNET).
|
MeV linear accelerator. A
machine that creates high-energy radiation to treat
cancer, using electricity to form a stream of
fast-moving subatomic particles. Also called linear
accelerator or a linac.
|
A drug that belongs to the
group of hormones called progestins, used as hormone
therapy to block estrogen and to suppress the effects of
estrogen and androgens. It is also used to stimulate the
appetite in people with cancer.
|
A special form of cell
division in which each daughter cell receives half the
amount of DNA as the parent cell. Meiosis occurs during
formation of egg and sperm cells in mammals.
|
(MEL-a-nin)
The substance that gives
the skin its color.
|
(mel-AN-o-sites)
Cells in the skin that
produce and contain the pigment called melanin.
|
A form of skin cancer that
arises in melanocytes, the cells that produce pigment.
Melanoma usually begins in a mole.
|
A cancer vaccine prepared
from human melanoma cancer cells. It can be used alone
or with other therapy in treating melanoma.
|
An anticancer drug that
belongs to the family of drugs called alkylating agents.
|
A very thin layer of
tissue that covers a surface.
|
An anticancer drug that
belongs to the family of drugs called antitumor
antibiotics.
|
Refers to the meninges,
the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord.
|
Cancer that has spread
from the original (primary) tumor to the tissue covering
the brain, spinal cord, or both.
|
(meh-NIN-jeez)
The three membranes that
cover and protect the brain and spinal cord.
|
(meh-nin-jee-O-ma)
A type of tumor that
occurs in the meninges, the membranes that cover and
protect the brain and spinal cord. Meningiomas usually
grow slowly.
|
(MEN-o-pawz)
The time of life when a
woman's menstrual periods stop permanently. Also called
"change of life."
|
(MEN-stroo-al)
The monthly cycle of
hormonal changes from the beginning of one menstrual
period to the beginning of the next.
|
Periodic discharge of
blood and tissue from the uterus. Until menopause,
menstruation occurs approximately every 28 days when a
woman is not pregnant.
|
An anticancer drug that
belongs to the family of drugs called antimetabolites.
|
A rare type of cancer that
develops on or just beneath the skin.
|
Refers to cells that
develop into connective tissue, blood vessels, and
lymphatic tissue.
|
The peritoneal membrane
that attaches the intestines to the abdominal wall near
the back.
|
A drug that helps protect
the kidneys and bladder from the toxic effects of
anticancer drugs such as ifosfamide and cyclophosphamide.
|
A benign (noncancerous) or
malignant (cancerous) tumor affecting the lining of the
chest or abdomen. Exposure to asbestos particles in the
air increases the risk of developing malignant
mesothelioma.
|
Having to do with
metabolism.
|
(met-ah-BOL-ik as-id-O-sis)
A condition in which the
blood is too acidic. It may be caused by severe illness
or sepsis (bacteria in the bloodstream).
|
A condition in which
normal metabolic processes are disrupted, usually
because of a missing enzyme.
|
Treatment to correct
changes in metabolism that can be caused by disease.
|
The total of all chemical
changes that take place in a cell or an organism. These
changes produce energy and basic materials needed for
important life processes.
|
A change of cells to a
form that does not normally occur in the tissue in which
it is found.
|
A general term used to
describe cancer that begins in cells that have changed
into another cell type (for example, a squamous cell of
the esophagus changing to resemble a cell of the
stomach). In some cases, metaplastic changes alone may
mean there is an increased chance of cancer developing
at the site.
|
(meh-TAS-ta-sis)
The spread of cancer from
one part of the body to another. Tumors formed from
cells that have spread are called "secondary
tumors" and contain cells that are like those in
the original (primary) tumor. The plural is metastases (meh-TAS-ta-seez).
|
(meh-TAS-ta-size)
To spread from one part of
the body to another. When cancer cells metastasize and
form secondary tumors, the cells in the metastatic tumor
are like those in the original (primary) tumor.
|
Having to do with
metastasis, which is the spread of cancer from one part
of the body to another.
|
Cancer that has spread
from the place in which it started to other parts of the
body.
|
Occurring at nearly the
same time.
|
An anticancer drug that
belongs to the family of drugs called antimetabolites.
|
A drug used in ultraviolet
light therapy.
|
A drug used in
photodynamic therapy; it is absorbed by tumor cells and,
when exposed to light, becomes active and kills the
cancer cells.
|
A drug that is a central
nervous system stimulant.
|
A corticosteroid hormone
replacement.
|
A drug that prevents or
reduces nausea and vomiting.
|
A drug used to treat
bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections. It is also
being studied in the treatment of some cancers.
|
An anticancer drug that
belongs to the family of drugs called antisense
compounds. These drugs interfere with production of
certain proteins in the cell.
|
(MY-krow-kal-si-fi-KAY-shunz)
Tiny deposits of calcium
in the breast that cannot be felt but can be detected on
a mammogram. A cluster of these very small specks of
calcium may indicate that cancer is present.
|
Small numbers of cancer
cells that have spread from the primary tumor to other
parts of the body and are too few to be picked up in a
screening or diagnostic test.
|
An organism that can be
seen only through a microscope. Microorganisms include
bacteria, protozoa, algae, and fungi. Although viruses
are not considered living organisms, they are sometimes
classified as microorganisms.
|
Too small to be seen
without a microscope.
|
Treatment that destroys
tissue with heat created by electrodes.
|
An anticancer drug that
blocks the action of progesterone, a hormone that
affects the growth of some cancers.
|
A measure of weight. A
milligram is approximately 450,000 times smaller than a
pound and 28,000 times smaller than an ounce.
|
A measure of volume for a
liquid. A milliliter is approximately 950 times smaller
than a quart and 30 times smaller than a fluid ounce. A
milliliter of liquid and a cubic centimeter (cc) of
liquid are the same.
|
A measure of length. A
millimeter is approximately 26 times smaller than an
inch.
|
A nutrient required to
maintain health.
|
A radioprotective agent
that belongs to the family of drugs called
prostaglandins.
|
A substance that comes
from the mistletoe plant and that is being studied as a
treatment for cancer. A lectin is a complex molecule
that has both protein and sugars. Lectins are able to
bind to the outside of a cell and cause biochemical
changes in it. Lectins are made by both animals and
plants.
|
Parts of a cell where
aerobic production (also called cell respiration) takes
place.
|
An anticancer drug that
belongs to the family of drugs called alkylating agents.
|
An anticancer drug that
belongs to the family of drugs called antitumor
antibiotics.
|
The process of division of
somatic cells in which each daughter cell receives the
same amount of DNA as the parent cell.
|
An anticancer drug used in
treating adrenocortical cancer and ACTH-producing
pituitary tumors (Cushing's disease).
|
Having to do with the
presence of dividing (proliferating) cells. Cancerous
tissue generally has more mitotic activity than normal
tissues.
|
Drugs that kill cancer
cells by interfering with cell division (mitosis).
|
An anticancer drug that
belongs to the family of drugs called antitumor
antibiotics.
|
An anticancer drug that
belongs to the family of drugs called mitotic
inhibitors. Also called CI-980.
|
Brain tumors that occur in
more than one type of brain cell, including astrocytes,
ependymal cells, and oligodendrocytes.
|
(mas-TEK-toe-mee)
Surgery for breast cancer
in which the breast, some of the lymph nodes under the
arm, the lining over the chest muscles, and sometimes
part of the chest wall muscles are removed.
|
A rare cancer in women of
childbearing 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, gestational
trophoblastic tumor, or choriocarcinoma.
|
A form of fungus. Some
molds can cause disease in humans.
|
A benign growth on the
skin (usually tan, brown, or flesh-colored) that
contains a cluster of melanocytes and surrounding
supportive tissue.
|
The sum of the atomic
masses of all atoms in a molecule, based on a scale in
which the atomic masses of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen,
and oxygen are 1, 12, 14, and 16, respectively. For
example, the molecular mass of water, which has two
atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen, is 18 (i.e., 2
+ 16).
|
A chemical made up of two
or more atoms. The atoms in a molecule can be the same
(an oxygen molecule has two oxygen atoms) or different
(a water molecule has two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen
atom). Biological molecules such as proteins and DNA can
be made up of many thousands of atoms.
|
(MAH-no-KLO-nul
AN-tih-BAH-deez)
Laboratory-produced
substances that can locate and bind to cancer cells
wherever they are in the body. Many monoclonal
antibodies are used in cancer detection or therapy; each
one recognizes a different protein on certain cancer
cells. Monoclonal antibodies can be used alone, or they
can be used to deliver drugs, toxins, or radioactive
material directly to a tumor.
|
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.
|
A type of white blood
cell.
|
A drug used in vaccine
therapy to stimulate the immune system.
|
A disease or the incidence
of disease within a population. Morbidity also refers to
adverse effects caused by a treatment.
|
A narcotic drug used in
the treatment of pain.
|
The science of the form
and structure of organisms (plants, animals, and other
forms of life).
|
A substance that makes
tumor cells more sensitive to radiation; it can also
enhance tumor images using magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI). Motexafin gadolinium belongs to the family of
drugs called metalloporphyrin complexes. Also called
gadolinium texaphyrin.
|
In medicine, having to do
with the movement of body parts.
|
Magnetic resonance imaging
(mag-NET-ik REZ-o-nans IM-a-jing). A procedure in which
a magnet linked to a computer is used to create detailed
pictures of areas inside the body. Also called nuclear
magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI).
|
A substance that is being
studied for its ability to make cancer cells respond
better to chemotherapy drugs to which they have become
resistant. It belongs to the family of drugs called
quinolone antibiotics.
|
A substance that is being
studied in the treatment of cancers of the blood . It
belongs to the family of drugs called histone
deacetylase inhibitors.
|
A protein/sugar compound
made by some cancer cells.
|
(MYOO-sin-us)
Containing or resembling
mucin, the main compound in mucus.
|
(MYOO-sin-us kar-sin-O-ma)
A type of cancer that
begins in cells that line certain internal organs and
produce mucin (the main component of mucus).
|
MALT lymphoma. A type of
cancer that arises in cells in mucosal tissue that are
involved in antibody production.
|
A complication of some
cancer therapies in which the lining of the digestive
system becomes inflamed. Often seen as sores in the
mouth.
|
A thick, slippery fluid
produced by the membranes that line certain organs of
the body, including the nose, mouth, throat, and vagina.
|
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.
|
A clinical trial that is
carried out at more than one medical institution.
|
Adaptation of tumor cells
to anticancer drugs in ways that make the drugs less
effective.
|
Treatment used to make
cancer cells less resistant to anticancer drugs.
|
Therapy that combines more
than one method of treatment.
|
An inherited tendency to
develop thyroid cancer and other cancers of the
endocrine system. The altered gene can be detected with
a blood test.
|
(mye-eh-LO-ma)
Cancer that arises in
plasma cells (white blood cells that produce
antibodies).
|
A disorder of the central
nervous system marked by weakness, numbness, a loss of
muscle coordination, and problems with vision, speech,
and bladder control. Multiple sclerosis is thought to be
an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system
destroys myelin. Myelin is a substance that contains
both protein and fat (lipid), serving as a nerve
insulator and helping in the transmission of nerve
signals.
|
A type of bean grown in
warm climates, usually for its seed and for bean
sprouts. Mung bean may have anticancer effects.
|
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.
|
Having to do with muscles,
bones, and cartilage.
|
To change the genetic
material of a cell. The changes (mutations) can be
harmful, beneficial, or have no effect.
|
Any change in the DNA of a
cell. Mutations may be caused by mistakes during cell
division, or they may be caused by exposure to
DNA-damaging agents in the environment. Mutations can be
harmful, beneficial, or have no effect. If they occur in
cells that make eggs or sperm, they can be inherited; if
mutations occur in other types of cells, they are not
inherited. Certain mutations may lead to cancer or other
diseases.
|
(my-AL-juh)
Pain in a muscle or group
of muscles.
|
A drug that is being
studied for its effectiveness in preventing
graft-versus-host disease and autoimmune disorders.
|
(mye-KO-sis fun-GOY-deez)
A type of non-Hodgkin's
lymphoma that first appears on the skin and can spread
to the lymph nodes or other organs such as the spleen,
liver, or lungs.
|
A drug that treats
infections caused by fungi.
|
(MYE-eh-lin)
The fatty substance that
covers and protects nerves.
|
Abnormal bone marrow cells
that may lead to myelogenous leukemia.
|
(MYE-eh-lo-dis-PLAS-tik
SIN-drome)
Disease in which the bone
marrow does not function normally. Also called
preleukemia or smoldering leukemia.
|
A disorder in which the
bone marrow is replaced by fibrous tissue.
|
(mye-eh-LAH-jen-us)
Produced by, or
originating in, the bone marrow.
|
(MYE-eh-lo-gram)
An x-ray of the spinal
cord after an injection of dye into the space between
the lining of the spinal cord and brain.
|
(MYE-eh-loyd)
Pertaining to, derived
from, or manifesting certain features of the bone
marrow. In some cases also pertains to certain types of
non-lymphocyte white blood cells found in the bone
marrow, including granulocyte, monocyte, and platelet
lineages. Also called myelogenous.
|
Cancer that arises in
plasma cells, a type of white blood cell.
|
Diseases in which too many
blood cells are made in the bone marrow.
|
A condition in which bone
marrow activity is decreased, resulting in fewer red
blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
Myelosuppression is a side effect of some cancer
treatments.
|
Treatment that inhibits
blood cell production.
|
(mye-o-MEE-tree-um)
The muscular outer layer
of the uterus.
|
