agnogenic myeloid metaplasia(ag-noh-JEN-ik MY-eh-loyd meh-tuh-PLAY-zhuh) A progressive, chronic disease in which the bone marrow is replaced by fibrous tissue and blood is made in…
agonistA drug that triggers an action from a cell or another drug.
agranulocyte(ay-GRAN-yoo-loh-SITE) A type of white blood cell. Monocytes and lymphocytes are agranulocytes.
AHAOne of a group of substances that are found in several types of fruit and in milk.
AIDSA disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). People with AIDS are at an increased risk for developing certain cancers and for infections…
AIDS Service Organization (ASO)(ASO)An organization that provides primary medical care and/or support services to populations infected with and affected by HIV disease.
AIDS-related cancer(â¦reh-LAYT-id KAN-ser) Certain cancer types that are more likely to occur in people who are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus…
Airborne transmissionIn this type of transmission, infective agents are spread as aerosols, and usually enter a person through the respiratory tract.
AJCC staging system(... STAY-jing SIS-tem) A system developed by the American Joint Committee on Cancer for describing the extent of cancer in a patient's body.
alanine aminopeptidaseAn enzyme that is used as a biomarker to detect damage to the kidneys, and that may be used to help diagnose certain kidney disorders.
alanine transferaseAn enzyme found in the liver and other tissues. A high level of alanine transferase released into the blood may be a sign of liver damage, cancer, or…
alanosineA substance that is being studied in the treatment of cancer. It belongs to the family of drugs called antimetabolites. Also called SDX-102.
albinism(AL-bye-niz-em) A group of genetic conditions marked by little or none of the pigment melanin in the skin, hair, and/or eyes.
Albumin(al-BYOO-min) A type of protein found in blood, egg white, milk, and other substances.
AlbuminuriaThe presence of simple protein in the urine, sometimes indicative of kidney disease.
ALCLAn aggressive (fast-growing) type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that is usually of the T-cell type.
alcohol(AL-kuh-hol) A chemical substance found in beer, wine, and liquor. Alcohol is also found in some medicines, mouthwashes, essential oils (scented liquid…
alcohol dependenceA disease in which a person craves alcohol, is unable to limit his or her drinking, needs to drink greater amounts to get the same effect, and has…
alcoholism(AL-kuh-HAW-LIH-zum) A disease in which a person craves alcohol, is unable to limit his or her drinking, needs to drink greater amounts to get the same…
Aldara(al-DAR-uh) A drug used to treat early basal cell skin cancer and certain other skin conditions.
aldehyde(AL-deh-hide) A type of chemical substance made from alcohol. Aldehydes are found in essential oils (scented liquid taken from plants).
aldesleukin(AL-des-LOO-kin) A drug used to treat some types of cancer. It is a form of interleukin-2, a cytokine made by leukocytes (white blood cells), that is made…
aldosterone(al-DOS-teh-rone) A steroid hormone made by the adrenal cortex (the outer layer of the adrenal gland).
Aldrich syndrome(AL-drich SIN-drome) An inherited immune disorder that occurs in young boys. It causes eczema (a type of skin inflammation), a decrease in the number of…
alefacept(uh-LEH-fuh-sept) A drug that is used to treat certain skin conditions and is being studied in the treatment of cutaneous (skin-related) T-cell cancer and…
alemtuzumabA type of monoclonal antibody used in the treatment of leukemia. Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-produced substances that can locate and bind to…
alendronate sodium(uh-LEN-droh-nayt SOH-dee-um) A drug used to treat certain bone conditions, such as osteoporosis and Paget disease of the bone.
AlimonyAlimony is money you get from a spouse with whom you no longer live, or a former spouse, if paid to you as part of a divorce agreement, separation…
Alimta(uh-LIM-tuh) A drug that is used to treat malignant pleural mesothelioma and advanced non-small cell lung cancer and is being studied in the treatment of…
alkalinization(AL-ka-LIN-ih-ZAY-shun) The process by which a substance becomes an alkali. An alkali is the opposite of an acid.
alkaloidA member of a large group of chemicals that are made by plants and have nitrogen in them. Some alkaloids have been shown to work against cancer.
AlkeranA drug that is used to treat multiple myeloma and ovarian epithelial cancer and is being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer.
alkylating agent(AL-kuh-LAY-ting AY-jent) A type of drug that is used in the treatment of cancer. It interferes with the cell's DNA and inhibits cancer cell growth.
ALLA fast-growing type of leukemia (blood cancer) in which too many lymphoblasts (immature white blood cells) are found in the blood and bone marrow.
all-trans retinoic acid(all-tranz REH-tih-NOH-ik A-sid) A form of vitamin A that is made by the body, and can also be made in the laboratory.
Allegra(uh-LEH-gruh) A drug used to treat certain allergy symptoms. It blocks a chemical released during an allergic response that causes itching, sneezing…
allergen(AL-er-jen) A substance that causes an allergic response. Examples include pollen, molds, and certain foods.
allergic response(uh-LER-jik reh-SPONTS) A hypersensitive immune reaction to a substance that normally is harmless or would not cause an immune response in most people.
AllergyAn abnormally high sensitivity to certain substances, such as pollens, foods, or microorganisms.
Allogeneic(A-loh-jeh-NAY-ik) Taken from different individuals of the same species. Also called allogenic.
allogeneic bone marrow transplantation(A-loh-jeh-NAY-ik bone MAYR-oh tranz-plan-TAY-shun) A procedure in which a person receives stem cells (cells from which all blood cells develop) from a…
allogeneic stem cell transplantation(A-loh-jeh-NAY-ik stem sel tranz-plan-TAY-shun) A procedure in which a person receives blood-forming stem cells (cells from which all blood cells develop)…
allogenicTaken from different individuals of the same species. Also called allogeneic.
allopathic medicine(A-loh-PA-thik MEH-dih-sin) A system in which medical doctors and other healthcare professionals (such as nurses, pharmacists, and therapists) treat…
allopurinolA drug that lowers high levels of uric acid (a byproduct of metabolism) in the blood caused by some cancer treatments.
Allovectin-7A substance that is being studied as a gene therapy agent in the treatment of cancer.
Allowed AmountMaximum amount on which payment is based for covered health care services. This may be called “eligible expense,” “payment allowance" or "negotiated…
aloe-emodinA substance found in certain plants, including aloe vera. It belongs to a family of compounds called anthraquinones, which have shown anti-inflammatory…
alopecia(al-oh-PEE-shuh) The lack or loss of hair from areas of the body where hair is usually found. Alopecia can be a side effect of some cancer treatments.
Aloxi(uh-LOK-see) A drug used to treat nausea and vomiting caused by cancer treatment. It is a type of serotonin receptor antagonist and a type of antiemetic.
alpha hydroxyl acid(AL-fuh hy-DROK-sil A-sid) One of a group of substances that are found in several types of fruit and in milk.
alpha-fetoprotein(AL-fuh-FEE-toh-PROH-teen) A protein normally produced by a fetus. AFP levels are usually undetectable in the blood of healthy adult men or women (who are…
alpha-lipoic acid(AL-fuh-lih-POH-ik A-sid) A substance that is being studied for its ability to protect normal cells from the side effects of chemotherapy and prevent…
alprazolam(al-PRAY-zoh-lam) A drug used to treat anxiety disorders and panic attacks. It is being studied in the treatment of nausea and vomiting caused by some…
alprostadil(al-PROS-tuh-dil) A drug that is used to treat impotence (inability to have an erection) and is being studied in the treatment of sexual problems in men…
Alteplase(AL-teh-PLAYS) A form of tissue plasminogen activator that is made in the laboratory.
AlterationAny change involving an erasure or rewriting in the date, amount, or payee of a check or other negotiable instrument.
alternative medicine(all-TER-nuh-tiv MEH-dih-sin) Practices used instead of standard treatments. They generally are not recognized by the medical community as standard or…
altretamineAn anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called alkylating agents.
AlumA type of immune adjuvant (a substance used to help boost the immune response to a vaccine). Also called aluminum sulfate.
aluminum sulfateA type of immune adjuvant (a substance used to help boost the immune response to a vaccine). Also called alum.
ALVAC-CEA vaccineA cancer vaccine containing a canary pox virus (ALVAC) combined with the human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) gene.
Alveoli(al-VEE-oh-ly) Tiny air sacs at the end of the bronchioles in the lungs.
Alzheimer dementia(ALTS-hy-mer dih-MEN-shuh) A brain disorder that usually starts in late middle age or old age and gets worse over time.
Alzheimer disease(ALTS-hy-mer dih-ZEEZ) A brain disorder that usually starts in late middle age or old age and gets worse over time.
Amanita phalloidesA type of poisonous mushroom that has harmful effects on the kidneys and liver. It is responsible for most fatal cases of mushroom poisoning.
AmbienA drug used to treat insomnia (inability to sleep), and anxiety. It is a type of imidazopyridine (sedative hypnotic). Also called zolpidem .
AMD3100A substance that is being studied for its ability to move stem cells out of the bone marrow and into circulating blood where they can be collected for use…
amelanotic melanoma(AY-meh-luh-NAH-tik MEH-luh-NOH-muh) A type of skin cancer in which the cells do not make the pigment melanin.
amethopterin(uh-meth-OPE-TAYR-in) A drug used to treat some types of cancer, severe skin conditions such as psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Amevive(AM-eh-veev) A drug that is used to treat certain skin conditions and is being studied in the treatment of cutaneous (skin-related) T-cell cancer and…
AMG 162A type of monoclonal antibody being studied in the treatment of multiple myeloma (a cancer that forms in bones) and in the prevention and treatment of…
AMG 531A drug used to treat patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) who do not get better with other forms of treatment.
AMG 706A substance that is being studied in the treatment of some types of cancer. It belongs to the families of drugs called angiogenesis inhibitors and protein…
amifostineA drug used as a chemoprotective drug to control some of the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
amikacinAn antibiotic drug used to treat infection. It belongs to the family of drugs called aminoglycoside antibiotics.
Amino acid(uh-MEE-noh A-sid) One of several molecules that join together to form proteins. There are 20 common amino acids found in proteins.
amino acid sequence(uh-MEE-noh A-sid SEE-kwents) The arrangement of amino acids in a protein. Proteins can be made from 20 different kinds of amino acids, and the structure…
aminocamptothecinAn anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called topoisomerase inhibitors.
aminoglutethimide(a-MEE-no-gloo-TETH-ih-mide) An anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitors.
aminoglycoside antibiotic(uh-MEE-noh-GLY-kuh-side an-tih-by-AH-tik) A substance that works against many types of bacteria and includes streptomycin, gentamicin, and neomycin.
aminolevulinic acid(uh-MEE-noh-lev-yoo-LIN-ik A-sid) The active ingredient in a drug used to treat actinic keratosis (a skin condition that may become cancer).
aminolevulinic acid hydrochloride(uh-MEE-noh-lev-yoo-LIN-ik A-sid HY-droh-KLOR-ide) A drug used to treat actinic keratosis (a skin condition that may become cancer).
aminopterinAn anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called antimetabolites.
amitriptyline(A-mih-TRIP-tih-LEEN) A drug that is used to treat depression and may be given to treat anxiety, sleep disorders, and pain.
amitriptyline hydrochloride(A-mih-TRIP-tih-LEEN HY-droh-KLOR-ide) A drug that is used to treat depression and may be given to treat anxiety, sleep disorders, and pain.
AMLA quickly progressing disease in which too many immature white blood cells (not lymphocytes) are found in the blood and bone marrow.
ammonium tetrathiomolybdate(uh-MOH-nee-um TEH-truh-THY-oh-muh-LIB-date) A substance being studied in the treatment of many types of cancer.
amonafideA substance that is being studied in the treatment of cancer. It belongs to the families of drugs called topoisomerase inhibitors and intercalating agents.
amoxicillin(uh-mok-sih-SIH-lun) A drug used to treat some bacterial infections. Amoxicillin is a form of penicillin that is made in the laboratory.
amphotericin B(AM-fuh-TAYR-ih-sin ...) A drug used in the treatment of infections caused by fungi. It is a type of antifungal.
Amplimexon(AM-plih-MEK-son) A substance that is being studied in the treatment of some types of cancer, including pancreatic, lung, breast, prostate, melanoma, and…