Glossary of Terms
Adjuvant Therapy
Any treatment given after the primary treatment to improve the chances of increased benefit. Adjuvant therapy may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, or biological therapy.
Antibody
A Y-shaped protein on the surface of B cells that is secreted into the blood or lymph fluid in response to the presence of an antigen. Each antibody binds to a specific antigen to induce cell apoptosis, or cell death
Antigen
A protein in a cell that has the capability of inducing a specific immune response from the body.
Antigen-Presenting Cell (APC)
A specialized cell which functions as the starting engine of the immune system by processing antigens and presenting them to the immune system. The result is a specific immune response consisting of either or both a cellular response and antibody response.
Apoptosis
Programmed cell death. The process leading to controlled self-destruction of a cell. This is also sometimes referred to as cellular suicide.
Astrocytoma
A tumor that begins in the brain or spinal cord in small, star-shaped cells called astrocytes.
Autologous
In blood transfusion, transplantation, or skin grafts for example, a situation in which the donor and recipient are the same person. Patients scheduled for non-emergency surgery may be autologous donors by giving blood in advance for their own surgery.
Brachytherapy (Seed therapy)
A localized, precise and minimally-invasive cancer treatment. Radioactive seeds are placed in or near the tumor itself, giving a high radiation dose to the tumor while reducing the radiation exposure in the surrounding healthy tissues.
Cancer
A family of over 200 diseases in which malignant cells grow and spread uncontrollably throughout the body disrupting the balance between new cell growth and old cell death.
Carmustine
An anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called alkylating agents. These agents interfere with the cell's DNA and inhibit cancer cell growth. Carmustine is the drug contained in the Gliadel wafer treatment for brain cancer.
Chemokines
Soluble proteins produced and released by a wide variety of cell types during the initial phase of the body’s response to injury, allergens, antigens, or invading microorganisms.
Chemotherapy
This therapy uses toxic drugs to slow or reverse the spread of cancer. The drugs are injected into the bloodstream to poison rapidly growing cancer cells. Side effects include damage to healthy cells and organs. In addition, there are the better known side effects of nausea, hair loss and anemia.
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials test new treatments (often referred to as “investigational drugs or biologics” because they have not yet been approved by the FDA) in people with diseases such as cancer. Clinical trials test unapproved drugs, new combinations of drugs, or new treatment strategies to determine whether these promising alternatives are safe and effective and may provide a better treatment option than current therapies. Data gathered during clinical trials is then reviewed by the FDA to determine approval.
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
The building block of living organisms, found primarily in the nucleus of a cell, that carries genetic information. DNA can replicate itself, synthesize RNA and is a major component of chromosomes.
Dendritic Cell
A special type of antigen-presenting cell that activates T lymphocytes, B cells and natural killer cells,in the immune system. “Educated” dendritic cells are used in NWBT’s vaccines in order to teach the immune system how to recognize and kill the cancer cells.
External Beam Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy in general is the use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. When the source of the radiation comes from a machine outside the body it is called external-beam radiation therapy.
Ex vivo
Outside of the living body.
GM-CSF
Granulocyte Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor, is a protein secreted by macrophages which stimulates stem cells to produce granulocytes and more macrophages. It is an important part of the immune and inflammatory cascade whereby activation of a small number of macrophages produces more of them in circulation. GM-CSF also mobilizes dendritic cells.
Gliadel Wafer
A biodegradable wafer that is used to deliver the anticancer drug carmustine directly into a brain tumor site after the tumor has been removed by surgery.
Glioblastoma Multiforme
A type of brain tumor that forms from the glial, or supportive, tissue of the brain. It grows rapidly and has cells that look very different from normal cells. Glioblastoma multiforme is also called grade IV astrocytoma.
Granulocytes
A type of white blood cell filled with microscopic granules that are little sacs containing enzymes, compounds that digest microorganisms.Granulocytes are part of the innate immune system and have somewhat nonspecific, broad-based activity. They do not respond exclusively to specific antigens, as do B-cells and T-cells.
Hematopoetic
Pertaining to the formation of blood cells.
Hormone Therapy for Prostate Cancer
In some cases, cutting off the supply of testosterone can slow the growth of prostate cancer. If the cancer has not responded to surgery or radiation, a doctor may recommend removing the testicles, the main source of testosterone. Another type of hormone therapy involves monthly injections of a drug that blocks testosterone production. Hormone therapy is not a cure.
Hormone-Independent Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer can sometimes be held in control by regulating hormones such as androgen or testosterone. Some cases of prostate cancer reach a point where the locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer has escaped this hormonal control. At that point, the treatment options are very limited and the cancer is known as hormone-independent.
Immune System
A complex group of organs and cells that defend the body against infections and diseases.
Immunogen
A substance that is capable of eliciting an immune response. A variety of macromolecules such as proteins, lipoproteins, polysaccharides, and some nucleic acids can act as immunogens.
Immunotherapy
An approach to the treatment of disease that seeks to stimulate and enhance the body's natural immune system to fight the disease.
In vivo
Inside the living body or performed in a living organism.
Leukemia
Bone marrow cancers in which white blood cells divide uncontrollably, affecting the production of normal white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.
Leukapheresis
The process of collecting a patient’s white blood cells, also known as leukocytes.
Lymphoma
A cancer of the lymph nodes (or tissues.)
Macrophages
Macrophages are part of the innate immune system and their name comes from the Greek meaning “big eater”. These cells are responsible for the clean-up and elimination of pathogens, dead cells and cellular debris in the body.
Metastasis
The process by which cancer spreads from a primary location in the body to other healthy tissues located elsewhere in the body via the lymphatic and circulatory systems.
Melanoma
A form of skin cancer that often arises in a mole. It is curable if diagnosed early but may sometimes be fatal.
Monoclonal Antibody
An antibody derived from a single cell in large quantities for use against a specific protein.
Natural Killer Cells (NK)
NK cells are a type of lymphocyte. Like cytotoxic T-cells, NK cells attack and kill tumor cells and protect against a wide variety of infectious microbes. They are "natural" killers because they do not need additional stimulation or need to recognize a specific antigen in order to attack and kill harmful cells. Dendritic cells can activate NK cells.
Neutrophil
A type of white blood cell that plays a major role in the body’s defense against bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a general term for cancers that develop in the lymphatic system. Hodgkin's disease is one type of lymphoma. All other lymphomas are grouped together and called Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
A group of lung cancers including squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma. Non-small cell lung cancer generally grows slowly and is much more common than small cell cancer of the lung.
Oncology
The diagnosis and treatment of tumors and cancer. Cancer patients may be referred to a medical oncologist, a surgical oncologist, or a radiation oncologist for treatment and management of their disease.
Peptides
A family of molecules formed from the linking, in a defined order, of various amino acids. Some peptides have been used in cancer vaccines.
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
A chemical substance produced in the prostate. A prostate-specific antigen level above normal may indicate prostate enlargement or cancer, and signals prompt further investigation. Monitoring of PSA levels assists physicians in treating prostate cancer and prediciting a recurrence of the disease. Normal PSA range is less than 4 ng/mL.
Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)
A prostate-specific antigen produced by the membrane of prostate cancer cells.
Proteins
Complex molecules that are responsible for specific and unique functions within the body. Examples of proteins include hormones, enzymes, and antibodies.
Renal Cell Carcinoma
Renal cell carcinoma is a form of kidney cancer that involves cancerous changes in the cells of the renal tubule. It is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults.
T-cells
immunity, and releasing cytokines to help control the production of antibodies to fight infection. T-cells are also called T lymphocytes. Originating in the thymus, they are responsible for Cell-Mediated Immune Responses. Helper T-Cells prime both Antibody-mediated and Cell-mediated effectors for the attack, while Suppressors await the signal to change, slow, or end the assault. Natural Killer Cells (NK) - recognize classes of cells and destroy tumor cells on contact.
TFF-Cell Separation System
A closed and automated sterile device for manufacturing dendritic cells from a patient’s white blood cells gathered through the process of leukopharesis.
Tangential Flow Filtration
Filtration process whereby liquid flows tangentially along the surface of a membrane. TFF is the opposite of direct flow filtration.
Temozolomide
An anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called alkylating agents. These agents interfere with the cell's DNA and inhibit cancer cell growth.
Therapeutic Index
The relative efficiency of one type of treatment compared to another.
Tumor Burden
Refers to the number of cancer cells, the size of a tumor, or the amount of cancer in the body. Also called tumor load. Treatments have a better chance of working when a patient’s tumor burden is low.
Vaccine
Traditionally, a treatment intended to mimic and thereby prevent a natural infection or disease, without the risks of a natural infection occurring from the vaccine itself. Newer types of vaccines are now used and in development not only to prevent diseases, but to treat them. The treatment vaccines in development are called therapeutic vaccines versus the preventative, or prophylactic, vaccines more commonly known.
© 2005 Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc., All Rights Reserved.
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