Analogue
A chemical compound with a structure similar to that of another compound but differing from it with respect to some component
Anaplasia
The absence of the cellular differentiation that is part of the normal cellular growth process
Antineoplastic drugs
Drugs used to treat cancer. Also called cancer drugs, anticancer drugs, cancer chemotherapy, and chemotherapy
Benign
Denoting a neoplasm that is noncancerous and therefore not an immediate threat to life
Cancer
A malignant neoplastic disease, the natural course of which is fatal
Carcinogen
Any cancer-producing substance or organism
Carcinomas
Malignant epithelial neoplasms that tend to invade surrounding tissue and metastasize to distant regions of the body
Cell cycle-nonspecific
Denoting antineoplastic drugs that are cytotoxic in any phase of the cellular growth cycle
Cell cycle-specific
Denoting antineoplastic drugs that are cytotoxic during a specific phase of the cellular growth cycle
Clone
A cell or group of cells that is genetically identical to a given parent cell
Differentiation
An important part of normal cellular growth in which immature cells mature into specialized cells
Dose-limiting adverse effects
Adverse effects that prevent an antineoplastic drug from being given in higher dosages, often restricting the effectiveness of the drug
Emetic potential
The potential of a drug to cause nausea and vomiting
Extravasation
The leakage of any intravenously or space surrounding the vein or artery; can cause serious tissue injury
Gene expression
How a cell expresses a receptor or gene; the process in which information from a gene is used in the synthesis of a gene product
Growth fraction
The percentage of cells in mitosis at any given time
Intrathecal
A route of drug injection through the theca of the spinal cord and into the subarachnoid space. This route is used to deliver certain chemotherapy medications to kill cancer cells in the central nervous system
Leukemias
Malignant neoplasms of blood-forming tissues characterized by the replacement of normal bone marrow cells with leukemic blasts resulting in abnormal numbers and forms of immature white blood cells in the circulation
Lymphomas
Malignant neoplasms of lymphoid tissue
Malignant
Tending to worsen and cause death; anapestic, invasive, and metastatic
Metastasis
The process by which a cancer spreads from the original site of growth to a new and remote part of the body
Mitosis
The process of cell reproduction occurring in somatic (nonsexual) cells and resulting in the formation of two genetically identical daughter cells containing the diploid (complete) number of chromosomes characteristic of the species
Mitotic index
The number of cells per unit undergoing mitosis during a given time
Mutagen
A chemical or physical agent that induces or increases genetic mutations by causing changes in DNA
Mutation
A permanent change in DNA that is transmissible to future cellular generations. Mutations can transform normal cells into cancer cells
Myelosuppression
Suppression of bone marrow function, which can result in dangerously reduced numbers of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets
Nadir
Lowest point in any fluctuating value over time; for example, the lowest white blood cell count measured after the count has been depressed by chemotherapy
Neoplasm
Any new and abnormal growth, specifically growth that is uncontrolled and progressive; a synonym for tumor. A malignant neoplasm or tumor is synonymous with cancer
Nucleic acids
Molecules of DNA and ribonucleic acid (RNA) in the nucleus of every cell (hence the name nucleic acid). Chromosomes are made up of DNA and encode all of the genes necessary for cellular structure and function
Oncogenic
Cancer producing; often applied to tumor-inducing viruses
Paraneoplastic syndromes
Symptom complexes arising in patients with cancer that cannot be explained by local or distant spread of their tumors
Primary lesion
The original site of growth of a tumor
Sarcomas
Malignant neoplasms of the connective tissues arising in bone, fibrous, fatty, muscular, synovial, vascular, or neural tissue, often first presenting as painless swellings
Tumor
A new growth of tissue characterized by a progressive, uncontrolled proliferation of cells. Tumors can be solid or circulating, and benign or malignant. Circulating tumors are more precisely called hematologic tumors or hematologic malignancies. A tumor i
Tumor lysis syndrome
A common metabolic complication of chemotherapy for rapidly growing tumors. It is characterized by the presence of excessive cellular waste products and electrolytes, including uric acid, phosphate, and potassium, and by reduced serum calcium levels