ONCOLOGY

anaplasia

loss of differentiation of cells; reversion to a more primitive cell type

Angiogenesis

formation of new blood vessels

Apoptosis

programmed cell death

benign tumor

Noncancerous growth (neoplasm)

biological therapy

use of the body's own defenses to destroy tumor cells

brachytherapy

radiotherapy that uses insertion of sealed containers into body cavities or radioactive seeds directly into the tumor

carcinogens

Agents that cause cancer: chemicals and drugs, radiation, and viruses

carcinoma

cancerous tumor made up of cells of epithelial origin

cellular oncogenes

pieces of DNA that, when activated by mutations or by dislocation, can cause a normal cell to become malignant

chemotherapy

treatment of cancer with drugs

dedifferentiation

loss of differentiation of cells; reversion to a more primitive, embryonic cell type; anaplasia or undifferentiation

differentiating agents

Drugs that promote tumor cells to differentiate, stop growing, and die

Differentiation

Specialization of cells

encapsulated

Surrounded by a capsule; benign tumors are encapsulated

external beam irradiation (teletherapy)

applying radiation to a tumor from a source outside the body

fields

dimensions of the size of radiation area used to treat a tumor from a specific angle

Fractionation

giving radiation in small, repeated doses

genetic screening

family members are tested to determine whether they have inherited a cancer-causing gene

grading of tumors

evaluating the degree of maturity of tumor cells or indication of malignant transformation

Gray (Gy)

unit of absorbed radiation dose

Irradiation

exposure to any form of radiant energy such as light, heat, or x-rays

malignant tumor

A tumor having the characteristics of continuous growth, invasiveness, and metastasis

metastasis

Spread of a malignant tumor to a secondary site; literally, beyond (meta-) control (-stasis).

Mitosis

Replication of cells; a stage in a cell's life cycle involving the production of two identical cells from a parent cell.

mixed-tissue tumors

tumors composed of different types of tissue

Mutation

Change in the genetic material (DNA) of a cell; may be caused by chemicals, radiation, or viruses or may occur spontaneously.

Nucleotide

Unit of DNA (gene) composed of a sugar, phosphate, and a base

oncogene

Region of DNA in tumor cells (cellular oncogene) or in viruses that cause cancer (viral oncogene)

photon therapy

radiation therapy using x-rays or gamma rays

proton therapy

Subatomic positively charged particles (protons) produced by a cyclotron deposit a dose of radiation at a tightly focused point in the body.

radiocurable tumor

tumor that is destroyed by radiation therapy

radioresistant tumor

tumor that requires large doses of radiation to be destroyed

radiosensitive tumor

tumor in which radiation can cause the death of cells without serious damage to surrounding tissue

radiosensitizers

drugs that increase the sensitivity of tumors to x-rays

radiotherapy

treatment using radiation

relapse

Recurrence of tumor after treatment

sarcoma

malignant tumor of connective tissue

simulation

Study using CT scan or MRI to map treatment before with radiotherapy is given

staging of tumors

System of evaluating the extent of spread of tumors. An example is the TNM (tumor-node-metastasis) system

Virus

An infectious agent that reproduces by entering a host cell and using the host's genetic material to make copies of itself.

necrotic

containing dead tissue

fungating

mushrooming pattern of growth in which tumor cells pile one on top of another and project from a tissue surface

ulcerating

characterized by large, open, exposed surfaces

inflammatory

characterized by redness, swelling, and heat

polypoid

growths are projections from a base; sessile and pedunculated tumors are examples

cystic

tumors form large, open spaces filled with fluid

verrucous

resembling a wart-like growth

medullary

tumors are large, soft, and fleshy

oral mucositis

Ulceration of lining cells in the mouth caused by radiation to the jaw

pneumonitis

inflammation of the lung

alopecia

baldness

myelosuppression

bone marrow depression (anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia)

Fibrosis

Radiation to the lungs causes increase in connective tissue

Xerostomia

dryness of the mouth

nausea

Chemotherapy may cause this sensation leading to vomiting

secondary tumors

New type of growths arise at a site separate from the primary tumor

Infertility

Inability to contribute to conception of a child

laparoscopy

visual examination of the abdominal cavity using an endoscope

bone marrow biopsy

removal of bone marrow tissue for microscopic examination

core needle biopsy

insertion of a large-bore needle into tissue to remove a core of cells for microscopic examination

PSA test

blood test for the presence of an antigen related to prostate cancer

CEA test

blood test for carcinoembryonic antigen (marker for GI cancer)

exfoliative cytology

cells are scraped from the region of suspected disease and examined under a microscope

stem cell transplantation

Bone marrow or stem cells are infused intravenously into a patient

osteoma

tumor of the bone