Antibody (an'ti-bod-ee)--A protein produced by a plasma cell in the lymphatic system or bone marrow. An antibody binds to the specific antigen that has stimulated the immune system. Once bound, the antigen can be destroyed by other cells of the immune system. See Immune System.
Biological Therapy--Use of biologicals (substances produced by our own cells) or biological response modifiers (substances that affect the patient's defense systems) in the treatment of cancer.
Cancer (kan'ser)--A general term for more than 100 diseases characterized by abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells. The resulting mass, or tumor, can invade and destroy surrounding normal tissues. Cancer cells from the tumor can spread through the blood or lymph to start new cancers in other parts of the body.
Chemotherapy (kee-mo-ther'a-pee)--Treatment with anticancer drugs.
Clinical Trials--The systematic investigation of the effects of materials or methods, according to a formal study plan and generally in a human population with a particular disease or class of diseases. In cancer research, a clinical trial generally refers to the evaluation of treatment methods such as surgery, drugs or radiation techniques, although methods of prevention, detection or diagnosis also may be the subject of such studies.
Combination Chemotherapy (kee-mo-ther'a-pee)--Use of two or more anticancer drugs.
Combination Therapy (ther'a-pee)--The use of two or more modes of treatment--surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy--in combination, alternately or together, to achieve optimum results against cancer. Also known as Multimodal Therapy.
Immune System--A complex network of organs, cells and specialized substances distributed throughout the body and defending it from foreign invaders that cause infection or disease.
Immunotherapy (im-mew-no-ther'a-pee)--A form of biological therapy. An experimental method of treating cancer, using substances which stimulate the body's immune defense system.
Informed Consent--The process in which a patient learns about and understands the purpose and aspects of a clinical trial and then agrees to participate. Of course, a patient may decline to participate. This process includes a document defining how much a patient must know about the potential benefits and risks of therapy before being able to agree to undergo it knowledgeably. (Informed consent is required in federally conducted, funded, or regulated studies as well as by many state laws.) If a patient signs an informed consent form and enters a trial, he or she is still free to leave the trial at any time, and can receive other available medical care.
Investigational New Drug--A drug allowed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used in clinical trials but not approved by the FDA for commercial marketing.
Investigator--The experienced clinical researcher who prepares a protocol or treatment plan and implements it with patients.
Metastasis (me-tas'ta-sis)--The transfer of disease from one part of the body to another. In cancer, metastasis is the migration of cancer cells from the original tumor site through the blood and lymph vessels to produce cancers in other tissues. Metastasis also is the term used for a secondary cancer growing at a distant site.
Metastatic Cancer (met-a-stat'ik)--Cancer that has spread from its original site to one or more additional body sites.
Monoclonal Antibodies (mon-o-klone'al an'ti-bod-eez)--One of several new substances used in biological therapy. These antibodies, all exactly alike, are mass produced and designed to hone in on and target cancer cells. Monoclonal antibodies are products of new scientific techniques and may prove useful in both cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Placebo (pla-see'bo)--An inactive substance resembling a medication, given for psychological effect or as a control in evaluating a medicine believed to be active. It is usually a tablet, capsule, or injection that contains a harmless substance but appears to be the same as the medicine being tested. A placebo may be compared with a new drug when no one knows if any drug or treatment will be effective.
Protocol (pro'to-kol)--The outline or plan for use of an experimental procedure or experimental treatment.
Radiation Therapy, also called Radiotherapy--Treatment using X-rays, cobalt-60, radium, neutrons, or other types of cell-destroying radiation.
Side Effect--A secondary and usually adverse effect, as from a drug or other treatment. For example, nausea is a side effect of some anticancer drugs.
Standard Treatment--A treatment or other intervention currently being used and considered to be of proved effectiveness on the basis of past studies.