bilirubin(bil-ih-ROO-bun) Substance formed when red blood cells are broken down. Bilirubin is part of the bile, which is made in the liver and is stored in the…
binding agentA substance that makes a loose mixture stick together. For example, binding agents can be used to make solid pills from loose powders.
bioavailableThe ability of a drug or other substance to be absorbed and used by the body. Orally bioavailable means that a drug or other substance that is taken by…
biochanin A(BY-oh-KAH-nin) An isoflavone found in soy products. Soy isoflavones (estrogen-like substances made by some plants) are being studied to see if they help…
biochemical reactionsIn living cells, chemical reactions that help sustain life and allow cells to grow.
biochemical recurrence(BY-oh-KEH-mih-kul ree-KUR-ents) A rise in the blood level of PSA (prostate-specific antigen) in prostate cancer patients after treatment with surgery or…
biochemical relapse(BY-oh-KEH-mih-kul REE-laps) A rise in the blood level of PSA (prostate-specific antigen) in prostate cancer patients after treatment with surgery or…
biochemist(BY-oh-KEH-mist) A scientist who has special training in the study of the chemicals and processes that occur in all living things.
biofeedbackA method of learning to voluntarily control certain body functions such as heartbeat, blood pressure, and muscle tension with the help of a special…
Bioinformatics(BY-oh-in-for-MA-tix) The science of using computers, databases, and math to organize and analyze large amounts of biological, medical, and health…
biologic agent(BY-uh-LAH-jik AY-jent) A substance that is made from a living organism or its products and is used in the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of cancer…
biological(BY-oh-LAH-jih-kul) Pertaining to biology or to life and living things. In medicine, refers to a substance made from a living organism or its products.
biological agent(BY-oh-LAH-jih-kul AY-jent) A substance that is made from a living organism or its products and is used in the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of…
biological drug(BY-oh-LAH-jih-kul...) A substance that is made from a living organism or its products and is used in the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of cancer…
biological profile(BY-oh-LAH-jih-kul PROH-file) A summary of the biological actions of a substance.
biological response modifier therapy(BY-oh-LAH-jih-kul reh-SPONTS MAH-dih-FY-er THAYR-uh-pee) Treatment to boost or restore the ability of the immune system to fight cancer, infections, and…
biological therapy(BY-oh-LAH-jih-kul THAYR-uh-pee) Treatment to boost or restore the ability of the immune system to fight cancer, infections, and other diseases.
biomarker(BY-oh-MAR-ker) A biological molecule found in blood, other body fluids, or tissues that is a sign of a normal or abnormal process, or of a condition or…
Biomed 101A substance that is being studied for its ability to decrease the side effects of interleukin-2 (IL-2).
biomedicine(BY-oh-MEH-dih-sin) A system in which medical doctors and other healthcare professionals (such as nurses, pharmacists, and therapists) treat symptoms and…
Biometrics(BY-oh-MEH-triks) The science of collecting and analyzing biologic or health data using statistical methods.
biometry(by-AH-meh-tree) The science of collecting and analyzing biologic or health data using statistical methods.
biopsy(BY-op-see) The removal of cells or tissues for examination by a pathologist. The pathologist may study the tissue under a microscope or perform other…
biopsy specimenTissue removed from the body and examined under a microscope to determine whether disease is present.
biorepository(BY-oh-reh-PAH-zih-TOR-ee) A facility that collects, catalogs, and stores samples of biological material, such as urine, blood, tissue, cells, DNA, RNA…
biospecimen(BY-oh-SPEH-sih-men) Samples of material, such as urine, blood, tissue, cells, DNA, RNA, and protein from humans, animals, or plants.
biostatistics(BY-oh-stuh-TIS-tix) The science of collecting and analyzing biologic or health data using statistical methods.
biotherapy(BY-oh-THAYR-uh-pee) Treatment to boost or restore the ability of the immune system to fight cancer, infections, and other diseases.
Birt-Hogg-Dube syndromeAn inherited condition in which benign tumors develop in hair follicles on the head, chest, back, and arms.
birth canalThe muscular canal extending from the uterus to the exterior of the body. Also called vagina.
birth control pillA pill used to prevent pregnancy. It contains hormones that block the release of eggs from the ovaries.
bispecific antibodyAn antibody developed in the laboratory to recognize more than one protein on the surface of different cells.
bispecific monoclonal antibodyA monoclonal antibody that binds two different types of antigen. Bispecific monoclonal antibodies do not occur naturally; they must be made in the…
bisphosphonate(bis-FOS-foh-nayt) A drug or substance used to treat hypercalcemia (abnormally high blood calcium) and bone pain caused by some types of cancer.
bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis(bis-fos-FOH-nayt-uh-SOH-see-ay-ted OS-tee-oh-neh-KROH-sis) The necrosis (death) of bone tissue caused by treatment with a bisphosphonate (a drug or…
bizelesinAn anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called alkylating agents. It is also an antitumor antibiotic.
BL22 immunotoxin(... IH-myoo-noh-TOK-sin) A bacterial toxic substance linked to an antibody that attaches to cancer cells and kills them.
black cohoshAn eastern North American perennial herb. A substance obtained from the root of the plant has been used in some cultures to treat a number of medical…
black snakerootAn eastern North American perennial herb. A substance obtained from the root of the plant has been used in some cultures to treat a number of medical…
blast crisis(blast KRY-sis) A phase of chronic myelogenous leukemia in which tiredness, fever, and an enlarged spleen occur during the blastic phase, when more than…
blastic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia(BLAS-tik FAYZ KRAH-nik MY-eh-LAH-jeh-nus loo-KEE-mee-uh) A phase of chronic myelogenous leukemia in which 20% or more of the cells in the blood or bone…
bleomycinAn anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called antitumor antibiotics.
blessed thistle(... THIH-sel) A plant whose leaves, stems, and flowers have been used in some cultures to treat certain medical problems.
blinded studyA type of study in which the patients (single-blinded) or the patients and their doctors (double-blinded) do not know which drug or treatment is being…
bloating(BLOH-ting) A swelling or feeling of fullness in the abdomen. Bloating is usually the result of gas in the intestines and can be caused by many things…
bloodA tissue with red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and other substances suspended in fluid called plasma.
blood cell countA test to check the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in a sample of blood. Also called CBC and complete blood count.
blood chemistry studyA procedure in which a sample of blood is examined to measure the amounts of certain substances made in the body.
blood clotA mass of blood that forms when blood platelets, proteins, and cells stick together.
blood poisoningDisease caused by the spread of bacteria and their toxins in the bloodstream. Also called septicemia and toxemia.
blood pressure(blud PREH-sher) The force of circulating blood on the walls of the arteries. Blood pressure is taken using two measurements: systolic (measured when the…
blood stasis(blud STAY-sis) In traditional Chinese medicine, a condition described as slowing or pooling of blood, which may cause pain or other symptoms.
blood thinnerA drug that helps prevent blood clots from forming. Also called anticoagulant.
blood transfusionThe administration of blood or blood products into a blood vessel.
Blood Urea Nitrogen(blud yoo-REE-uh NY-truh-jen) Nitrogen in the blood that comes from urea (a substance formed by the breakdown of protein in the liver).
blood vesselA tube through which the blood circulates in the body. Blood vessels include a network of arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins.
blood-brain barrierA network of blood vessels with closely spaced cells that makes it difficult for potentially toxic substances (such as anticancer drugs) to penetrate the…
blood-brain barrier disruptionThe use of drugs to create openings between cells in the blood-brain barrier. The blood-brain barrier is a protective network of blood vessels and tissue…
BMDA measure of the amount of minerals (mostly calcium and phosphorous) contained in a certain volume of bone.
BMD scanAn imaging test that measures bone density (the amount of bone mineral contained in a certain volume of bone) by passing x-rays with two different energy…
BMIBody mass index. A measure that relates body weight to height. BMI is sometimes used to measure total body fat and whether a person is a healthy weight.
BMS-182751A substance being studied in the treatment of prostate and other types of cancer.
BMS-184476A substance that is being studied in the treatment of cancer. It belongs to the family of drugs called mitotic inhibitors.
BMS-188797A substance that is being studied in the treatment of cancer. It belongs to the family of drugs called taxane analogs.
BMS-214662A substance that is being studied in the treatment of cancer. It belongs to the family of drugs called farnesyltransferase inhibitors.
BMS-247550A drug used to treat metastatic or locally advanced breast cancer that has not improved after treatment with certain other anticancer drugs.
BMS-275291A substance that is being studied in the treatment of cancer. It belongs to the family of drugs called matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors (MMPIs).
BMS-354825A drug used to treat certain types of chronic myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
BMS-599626A substance that is being studied in the treatment of cancer. It belongs to the family of drugs called protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
body image(BAH-dee IH-mij) The way a person thinks about his or her body and how it looks to others.
body mass indexA measure that relates body weight to height. BMI is sometimes used to measure total body fat and whether a person is a healthy weight.
bolusA single dose of drug usually injected into a blood vessel over a short period of time. Also called bolus infusion.
bolus infusion(BOH-lus in-FYOO-zhun) A single dose of drug usually injected into a blood vessel over a short period of time. Also called bolus.
BONThe necrosis (death) of bone tissue caused by treatment with a bisphosphonate (a drug or substance used to treat osteoporosis, bone pain caused by some…
bone cancer(... KAN-ser) Primary bone cancer is cancer that forms in cells of the bone. Some types of primary bone cancer are osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, malignant…
bone density(...DEN-sih-tee) A measure of the amount of minerals (mostly calcium and phosphorous) contained in a certain volume of bone.
Bone marrow(bone MAYR-oh) The soft, sponge-like tissue in the center of most bones. It produces white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.
bone marrow ablation(bone MAYR-oh uh-BLAY-shun) The destruction of bone marrow using radiation or drugs.
Bone Marrow Aspiration(bone MAYR-oh as-pih-RAY-shun) The removal of a small sample of bone marrow (usually from the hip) through a needle for examination under a microscope.
Bone Marrow Biopsy(bone MAYR-oh BY-op-see) The removal of a sample of tissue from the bone marrow with a needle for examination under a microscope.
bone marrow cancer(bone MAYR-oh KAN-ser) Cancer that forms in the blood-forming cells of the bone marrow (soft sponge-like tissue in the center of most bones).
bone marrow metastasis(bone MAYR-oh meh-TAS-tuh-sis) Cancer that has spread from the original (primary) tumor to the bone marrow.
bone marrow transplantation(bone MAYR-oh tranz-plan-TAY-shun) A procedure to replace bone marrow that has been destroyed by treatment with high doses of anticancer drugs or…
bone massA measure of the amount of minerals (mostly calcium and phosphorous) contained in a certain volume of bone.
bone metastasis(...meh-TAS-tuh-sis) Cancer that has spread from the original (primary) tumor to the bone.
bone mineral density(... MIH-neh-rul DEN-sih-tee) A measure of the amount of minerals (mostly calcium and phosphorous) contained in a certain volume of bone.
bone mineral density scan(... MIH-neh-rul DEN-sih-tee skan) An imaging test that measures bone density (the amount of bone mineral contained in a certain volume of bone) by…
bone scanA technique to create images of bones on a computer screen or on film. A small amount of radioactive material is injected into a blood vessel and travels…
bone-seeking radioisotopeA radioactive substance that is given through a vein, and collects in bone cells and in tumor cells that have spread to the bone.
BoosterIn medicine, refers to a vaccination given after a previous vaccination. A booster helps maintain or increase a protective immune response.
borderline personality disorder(BOR-der-LINE PER-suh-NA-lih-tee dis-OR-der) A serious mental illness marked by unstable moods and impulsive behavior.
boron neutron capture therapy(BOR-on NOO-tron KAP-cher THAYR-uh-pee) A type of radiation therapy. The patient is given an infusion that contains the element boron, which collects in…
bortezomib(bore-TEZ-oh-mib) A drug used to treat multiple myeloma that has gotten worse during treatment with other anticancer drugs.
Boswellia serrata(bos-WEH-lee-uh seh-RAY-tuh) A tree that belongs to the incense tree family. The tree's amber-colored resin is used in incense.
botanicalHaving to do with, or derived from, plants.
bowel(BOW-ul) The long, tube-shaped organ in the abdomen that completes the process of digestion. The bowel has two parts, the small bowel and the large bowel.