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AACR - Cancer terms Category: Health and Medicine > Cancer Research Date & country: 27/09/2013, USA Words: 205

intracellular
Inside of the cell.

intrinsic resistance
A term used to describe tumor types that are drug resistant at presentation. In this case, resistance likely arises from a characteristic of the tissue of origin (e.g., colon tumors may express high levels of drug transport proteins because these proteins are expressed and play a role in normal colon cells), or from changes that occur during oncogenesis (e.g., mutations in p53 are involved in cancer development as well as drug resistance).

investigational group
In a clinical trial, the group that receives the new agent being tested. The investigational group is typically compared to a control group.

investigational new drug (IND)
A drug that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows.

irreversible toxicity
Side effects that are caused by toxic substances or something harmful to the body and do not go away.

karyotype
A photomicrograph of an individual's complete set of chromosomes arranged in homologous pairs and ordered by size. Karyotypes show the number, size, shape and banding pattern of each chromosome type. They can be used to determine if there are large abnormalities in the chromosomes, such as a major deletion, insertion or translocation.

knockout mouse
A mouse that has had both alleles of a particular gene replaced with an inactive allele, usually through homologous recombination. Knockout mice are used to determine the role of a particular gene by observing the phenotype of individuals that lack the gene completely.

leukemia
Cancer of white blood cells.

leukocytes
White blood cells.

Li-Fraumeni syndrome
A rare, inherited familial cancer syndrome characterized by tumors at multiple sites. A mutation of the p53 tumor suppressor gene predisposes family members who inherit it to develop multiple cancers.

ligand
A linking or binding molecule that binds to a specific complementary site on (forms a complex with) another molecule. For example, a growth factor is a ligand for its growth factor receptor.

LTFU
Long-term follow up.

lumen
The inner cavity or open space of a tube or tubular organ (e.g., blood vessel, intestine).

lymphedema
A condition that manifests itself by swelling and/or pain in the tissue around any area on the body that has received surgery and/or radiation. Usually occurs in the extremities (hands/arms or legs/feet) but can also occur anywhere on the body where surgery was done, e.g., neck/face, trunk, breast).

lymphocyte
White blood cells that kill viruses and defend against the invasion of foreign material. These cells mediate the specificity of immune responses. See B cell and T cell.

lymphoma
Cancer of lymphocytes or the lymphoid system (e.g., Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma).

metastasize
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.

mitosis
The process of cell division, resulting in formation of two daughter cells that are genetically identical to the parent cell.

multidrug resistance
The ability of a tumor cell to develop resistance to a number of structurally and functionally unrelated drugs, following exposure to a single agent.

murine (mouse) antibody
The antibody is derived solely from mouse proteins and is viewed as foreign by the host (human) body.

mutation
A heritable change in the sequence of the DNA. Mutations can result from errors in DNA replication or from DNA damage and can range from changes in a single base pair (point mutation) to gross changes in a chromosome (duplication, translocation, inversion, deletion). Not all mutations are harmful

myeloma
Cancer of the bone marrow, especially the antibody producing cells in the bone marrow.

National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Part of the National Institutes of Health of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the NCI is the federal government's principal agency for cancer research. NCI conducts, coordinates and funds cancer research, training, health information dissemination and other programs with respect to the cause, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of cancer. Access the NCI website at www.cancer.gov.

natural killer (NK) cell
A cytotoxic cell of the immune system that can recognize and destroy a large variety of virally infected cells and tumor cells.

neoadjuvant
Initial treatment which is not the primary therapy (for instance, chemotherapy or radiation, prior to surgery). It is often administered in instances of locally advanced disease in the hope that the size of the tumor is reduced in order that it might be surgically removed.

neoplasm
An abnormal new growth of tissues or cells. Neoplasms can be benign or malignant.

New Drug Application (NDA)
The vehicle through which drug sponsors formally propose that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approve a new pharmaceutical for sale and marketing. This application is usually filed once a trial has generated adequate data to support a certain indication for a drug (usually by finding that the drug is safe and superior to standard treatment in a definitive phase III trial). The data gathered during pre-clinical studies as well as manufacturing specifications of an Investigational New Drug are also part of the NDA filing.

non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
A group of cancers of the lymphoid system, including acute lymphoblastic leukemia, B-cell lymphoma, Burkitt's lymphoma, diffuse cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, immunoblastic large cell lymphoma, lymphoblastic lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, mycosis fungoides, post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder, small non-cleaved cell lymphoma and T-cell lymphoma.

non-small cell lung cancer
A group of lung cancers that includes squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and large cell carcinoma.

nucleotides
The building blocks of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA). The four nucleotide bases are guanine (G), cytosine (C), adenine (A) and thymine (T).

nucleus
The part of the cell bounded by its own nuclear membrane that contains the chromosomes.

oncogene
A mutated proto-oncogene that is locked into an active state and continuously stimulates unregulated cell growth and proliferation that leads to tumor development. Myc, ras and erb are examples of oncogenes. The normal allele of an oncogene is called a proto-oncogene.

oncogenesis
The process by which normal cells turn cancerous. A sequence of cytological, genetic and cellular changes causes the formation and development of tumors. Also called tumorigenesis.

oncology
The branch of medicine that deals with tumors, including study of their development, diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

overall survival
The percentage of subjects in a study who have survived for a defined period of time. It is usually reported as a hazard ratio.

P-glycoprotein
The first identified and best studied of the ABC drug transporters.

p-value
A measure of probability that a difference between groups during an experiment happened by chance. For example, a p-value of .01 (p=.01) means that there is a 1 in 100 chance the result occurred by chance. The lower the p-value, the more likely it is that the difference between groups was caused by treatment.

palliative treatment
Treatment aimed at the relief of pain and symptoms of disease but is not intended to cure the disease.

partial response
A decrease in the size of a tumor, or the regression by more than 50 percent but less than 100 percent of the extent of cancer in the body.

pathogenesis
The development of disease.

pharmacogenetics
The study of the genetic factors that influence each person's reaction to a drug. Pharmacogenetic studies are helping to advance the concept of personalized medicine, in which anticancer treatments will be tailored to the individual patient based on his or her genetic, epigenetic and proteomics profiles.

phase I trial
Small groups of people with cancer are treated with a certain dose of a new agent that has already been extensively studied in the laboratory. During the trial, the dose is usually increased group by group in order to find the highest dose that does not cause harmful side effects. This process determines a safe and appropriate dose to use in a phase II trial. Usually does not include a control treatment for comparison.

phase II trial
Phase II trials continue to test the safety of the new agent and begin to evaluate how well it works against a specific type of cancer. In these trials, the new agent is given to groups of people with one type of cancer or related cancers, using the dosage found to be safe in phase I trials. Usually the new agent is compared with a standard treatment in this type of trial.

phase III trial
Phase III studies are designed to answer research questions across the disease continuum. Phase III trials usually have hundreds to thousands of participants, in order to find out if there are true differences in the effectiveness of the treatment being tested. Once this phase is completed, the pharmaceutical company will usually submit a New Drug Application to the FDA, provided the results of the trials warrant such a request.

phase IV trial
Phase IV trials are used to evaluate the long-term safety and effectiveness of a treatment. Less common than phase I, II, and III trials, phase IV trials take place after the new treatment has been approved for standard use.

phenotype
The observable physical and biochemical characteristics or traits of an organism such as hair color, blood type, or the presence or absence of a disease. The phenotype is determined by both genetic and environmental influences.

Pilot 1
Under the FDA's Continuous Marketing Approval program, the Pilot 1 program allows applicants submitting New Drug Applications (NDAs) to submit portions of their marketing applications (reviewable units) before submitting the complete marketing application. The FDA has agreed to complete reviews of these reviewable units within a specified period of time and to provide early feedback for the pre-submissions. Pilot 1 also will evaluate the benefits and costs of providing applicants with such early review feedback.

pivotal trial
A controlled trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a drug in patients who have the disease or condition to be treated. These trials usually represent the most rigorous demonstration of the therapeutic's efficacy and safety, and are the basis for the NDA filing with the FDA.

preclinical testing
A process in which scientists test promising new anticancer agents in the laboratory and in animal models. This is done to find out whether agents have an anticancer effect and are safely tolerated in animals. Once a drug proves promising in the lab, the sponsor applies for Food and Drug Administration approval to test it in clinical trials involving people.

prevention trials
Trials involving healthy people who are at high risk for developing cancer. These trials try to answer specific questions about and evaluate the effectiveness of ways to reduce the risk of cancer.

principal investigator (PI)
The person, usually a doctor, who is in charge of a clinical trial. The PI prepares a protocol for the trial.

priority review
A designation for an application after it has been submitted to the FDA for review for approval of a marketing claim. Under the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act (FDAMA), reviews for New Drug Applications are designated as either Standard or Priority. A Standard designation sets the target date for completing all aspects of a review and the FDA taking an action on the application (approve or not approve) at 10 months after the date it was filed. A Priority designation sets the target date for the FDA action at six months. A Priority designation is intended for those products that address unmet medical needs.

progression-free survival
This term defines the length of time during and after treatment that the cancer does not grow. Progression-free survival includes the amount of time patients have experienced a complete response or a partial response, as well as the amount of time patients have experienced stable disease.

progressive disease
Progressive disease is defined in clinical trials as tumor growth of more than 20 percent since treatment began. Tumor growth means that the tumor is getting bigger, but it may also mean that the tumor is spreading. Progression generally indicates that treatment has stopped working.

proteome
All of the proteins encoded by the genome and made by a person's cells and tissues.

proteomics
The study of the networks of proteins within cells and tissues. Proteomics involves identifying all the proteins made in a cell or tissue, deciphering how these proteins interact, and determining their three-dimensional structures to find sites where drugs could interfere with their function.

proto-oncogenes
A gene that promotes normal cell growth and differentiation.

quality of life
The overall enjoyment of life. Many clinical trials measure aspects of an individual's sense of well-being and ability to perform various tasks to assess the effects of cancer and its treatment on the quality of life.

radiotherapy
The use of high-energy radiation from X-rays, neutrons and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external-beam radiation therapy) or from materials called radioisotopes. Radioisotopes produce radiation and can be placed in or near the tumor or in the area near cancer cells. This type of radiation treatment is called internal radiation therapy, implant radiation, interstitial radiation or brachytherapy. Systemic radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance, such as a radiolabeled antibody, that circulates throughout the body. Radiotherapy is also called radiation therapy, irradiation and X-ray therapy.

randomization
A method used to prevent bias in research. A computer generates treatment assignments, and participants have an equal chance to be assigned to one of two or more groups (e.g., the control group or the investigational group).

randomized clinical trial
A study in which the participants are assigned by chance to separate groups that compare different treatments. Neither the researchers nor the participants can choose which group. Using chance to assign people to groups means that the groups will be similar and that the treatments they receive can be compared objectively. At the time of the trial, it is not known which treatment is best. It is the patient's choice to be in a randomized trial.

RECIST criteria
The standard criteria used for performance measurement in solid tumor clinical trials. The response criteria for evaluation include complete response (CR), partial response (PR), progressive disease (PD) and stable disease (SD).

recurrence
The return of cancer, at the same site as the original (primary) tumor or in another location, after the tumor had disappeared.

refractory
Cancer that has not responded to treatment.

relapse
The return of signs and symptoms of cancer after a period of improvement.

remission
A decrease in or disappearance of signs and symptoms of cancer. In partial remission, some, but not all, signs and symptoms of cancer have disappeared. In complete remission, all signs and symptoms of cancer have disappeared, although there still may be cancer in the body.

response rate
The percentage of patients whose cancer shrinks more than 50 percent following treatment.

RNA (ribonucleic acid)
A single-stranded nucleic acid containing ribose instead of deoxyribose. Messenger RNA (mRNA) is formed on and complementary to its DNA template and directs the translation of a gene into a protein.

sarcoma
Cancer of muscles or connective tissues such as bone, cartilage and fat.

second-line treatment
Treatment that is given after the cancer has not responded to a first course of therapy or a patient ceases first-line of therapy.

sequelae
A pathological condition resulting from a disease, or a secondary consequence or result.

side effects
Problems that may occur when treatment affects healthy tissues or organs. Some common side effects of cancer treatment are fatigue, pain, nausea, vomiting, decreased blood cell counts, hair loss and mouth sores.

small cell lung cancer
A type of lung cancer in which the cells appear small and round when viewed under the microscope. About 20 percent of all lung cancers are SMLC.

somatic cell
All cells in the body except the gametes. Mutations in the DNA of somatic cells is passed on to the daughter cells during cell division, but is not inherited by the organism's offspring.

squamous cell carcinoma
Cancer that begins in squamous cells, which are thin, flat cells resembling fish scales. Squamous cells are found in the tissue that forms the surface of the skin, the lining of the hollow organs of the body, and the passages of the respiratory and digestive tracts.

stable disease
A tumor may shrink, but not enough to be categorized as a partial response (that is, tumor reduction greater than 50 percent). Or a tumor may increase in size, but not enough to be considered progressive disease (that is, tumor growth greater than 20 percent). Such tumors, in which there is no significant change in size, are classified as stable disease.

stage
The extent of a cancer, especially whether the disease has spread from the original site to other parts of the body. The stages of cancer vary for each cancer type and with the staging system used. Generally, cancers can be classified as:

stage 0
The stage where the cancer is still confined to the tissue in which it started. Also called cancer in situ.

stage 1
The tumor is larger than in stage 0, but still localized.

stage 2
The tumor is larger, and cancer cells may be present in nearby lymph nodes.

stage 3
Cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes and/or tissue.

stage 4
Cancer has spread to distant lymph nodes and/or organs.

standard treatment
A currently accepted and widely used treatment for a certain type of cancer, based on the results of past research. Also known as standard therapy.

stroma
The nonmalignant host cells and extracellular matrix in which a tumor grows.

survivorship
Physical, psychosocial and economic issues of cancer, from diagnosis until the end of life. It focuses on the health and life of a person with cancer beyond the diagnosis and treatment phases. Survivorship includes issues related to the ability to get health care and follow-up treatment, late effects of treatment, second cancers and quality of life. Family members, friends and caregivers are also part of the survivorship experience.

symptom deterioration
A deterioration of health status requiring discontinuation of treatment without objective evidence of disease progression.

T cell or T-lymphocyte
White blood cells responsible for generating cell-mediated immune responses. Some T cells (helper T cells) enhance the response of other effector cells, including B cells, macrophages and NK cells, by secreting cytokines. Others (cytotoxic T cells) can directly kill virus-infected cells and tumor cells. T cells are antigen-specific, but unlike antibodies they only recognize their antigen when it is cut into tiny pieces that are loaded into MHC molecules and displayed on the surface of a cell.

targeted therapy
A type of treatment that uses drugs or other substances to identify and attack specific cancer cells while limiting affect on normal cells.

telomerase
An enzyme that rebuilds telomeres. Telomerase is overexpressed in many cancer cells, and it contributes to their immortality, or ability to divide endlessly.

telomeres
Special DNA sequences at the ends of each chromosome that grow shorter each time a cell divides. Telomeres count the number of cell divisions, and when it shortens to a certain length, the cell will stop dividing (senescence) and eventually die.

third-line treatment
Treatment that is given after the cancer has not responded to a second course of therapy or a patient ceases second-line of therapy.

toxicity
Harmful side effects from an agent being tested.

transcription
The synthesis of a single stranded, complementary RNA molecule from a DNA template in the cell nucleus. When a gene is transcribed, it is said to be expressed. Not all genes are expressed in all cells.

transcription factors
Proteins that bind to DNA and help initiate gene transcription. Transcription factors are often important elements of signal transduction pathways.

transformation
The process by which a normal cell undergoes a series of changes that cause it to become cancerous.

transgenic mouse
A mouse that has had DNA artificially introduced into one or more of its cells. Transgenic mice are often used to examine the effects of overexpressing or misexpressing a normal or mutated gene at a specific time and/or in specific tissue.

translation
The synthesis of a polypeptide chain (protein) from its mRNA template.

translational research
Research that bridges the gap between laboratory research and its application to the clinic. This type of research, which often involves teams of scientists, conveys new ideas and discoveries between the lab and clinic both to increase our understanding of cancer and to advance the areas of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cancer.

translocation
An abnormal rearrangement of the DNA in a chromosome.

tumor
An abnormal mass of tissue that results from excessive cell division. Tumors perform no useful body function. They may be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).