nitrocamptothecinAn alkaloid drug belonging to a class of anticancer agents called topoisomerase inhibitors.
nitrosourea(nye-TRO-so-yoo-REE-ah) An anticancer drug that can cross the blood-brain barrier. Carmustine and lomustine are nitrosoureas.
NK cellA type of white blood cell that contains granules with enzymes that can kill tumor cells or microbial cells.
NLPHLA rare type of Hodgkin lymphoma, which is a cancer of the immune system. It is marked by the presence of a type of cell called a popcorn cell, which is…
NMRIA procedure in which radio waves and a powerful magnet linked to a computer are used to create detailed pictures of areas inside the body.
NMSA life-threatening condition that may be caused by certain drugs used to treat mental illness, nausea, or vomiting.
node-negativeCancer that has not spread to the lymph nodes.
node-positive(... PAH-zih-tiv) Cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes.
nodular parenchyma(NAH-juh-ler puh-REN-kih-muh) A small mass of tissue within a gland or organ that carries out the specialized functions of the gland or organ.
nodule(NOD-yool) A growth or lump that may be cancerous or noncancerous.
nolatrexedA substance that is being studied in the treatment of liver cancer. It belongs to the family of drugs called thymidylate synthase inhibitors.
Nolvadex(NOL-vuh-dex) A drug used to treat certain types of breast cancer in women and men.
nomogram(NAH-moh-GRAM) A mathematical device or model that shows relationships between things.
non-Hodgkin lymphoma(non-HOJ-kin lim-FOH-muh) Any of a large group of cancers of the immune system.
Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus(NIDDM.) Type II diabetes; adult or maturity onset diabetes; an often mild form of diabetes mellitus of gradual onset, usually in obese individuals over…
non-melanoma skin cancerSkin cancer begins in the outer layer of the skin. Melanoma is a cancer that begins in skin cells that produce melanin, which gives your skin color.
non-small cell lung cancerA group of lung cancers that are named for the kinds of cells found in the cancer and how the cells look under a microscope.
nonblindedDescribes a clinical trial or other experiment in which the researchers know what treatments are being given to each study subject or experimental group.
nonconsecutive case seriesA clinical study that includes some, but not all, of the eligible patients identified by the researchers during the study registration period.
noncontiguous lymphoma(non-kun-TIG-yoo-us lim-FOH-muh) Lymphoma in which the lymph nodes containing cancer are not next to each other, but are on the same side of the diaphragm…
nonfunctioning tumor(non-FUNK-shuh-ning TOO-mer) A tumor that is found in endocrine tissue but that does not make extra hormones (chemicals that travel in the blood and…
nonhematologic cancer(non-HEE-muh-tuh-LAH-jik KAN-ser) Cancer that does not begin in the blood or bone marrow.
noniMorinda citrifolia. A tropical shrub. An extract from the fruit is being studied as a treatment for cancer, and extracts from the fruit, leaves, or roots…
noninvasive(NON-in-VAY-siv) In medicine, it describes a procedure that does not require inserting an instrument through the skin or into a body opening.
Nonketotic Hyperosmolar Coma(NKHC, Hyperglycemic Coma) This is a gradual loss of consciousness, most often in an older person whose diabetes usually does not require insulin…
nonlyticIn biology, refers to viruses that do not kill infected cells by disrupting their plasma membranes.
nonmalignant hematologic disorder(non-muh-LIG-nunt HEE-muh-tuh-LAH-jik dis-OR-der) A disorder of the blood. Some nonmalignant hematologic disorders may lead to leukemia.
nonmelanoma carcinoma in situ(non-MEH-luh-NOH-muh KAR-sih-NOH-muh in SY-too) Abnormal cells are found in the squamous cell or basal cell layer of the epidermis (outer layer of skin).
nonmelanoma skin cancer(... non-MEH-luh-NOH-muh skin KAN-ser) Skin cancer that forms in basal cells or squamous cells but not in melanocytes (pigment-producing cells of the…
nonmelanomatousHaving to do with skin cancer that develops in basal cells or squamous cells but not in melanocytes (pigment-producing cells of the skin).
nonmetastatic(non-meh-tuh-STA-tik) Cancer that has not spread from the primary (original) site to other sites in the body.
nonopioidA drug that is not an opioid. Examples include acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as aspirin and ibuprofen.
nonprescriptionA medicine that can be bought without a prescription (doctor's order). Examples include analgesics (pain relievers) such as aspirin and acetaminophen.
nonrandomized clinical trialA clinical trial in which the participants are not assigned by chance to different treatment groups.
nonseminoma(non-sem-ih-NO-ma) A group of testicular cancers that begin in the germ cells (cells that give rise to sperm).
nonspecific immune cell(non-speh-SIH-fik ih-MYOON SEL) A cell (such as a phagocyte or a macrophage) that responds to many antigens, not just one antigen.
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug(NON-steh-ROY-dul AN-tee-in-FLA-muh-TOR-ee ...) A drug that decreases fever, swelling, pain, and redness. Also called NSAID.
nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor(NON-steh-ROY-dul uh-ROH-muh-tayz in-HIH-bih-ter) A drug that decreases the production of sex hormones (estrogen or testosterone) and slows the growth of…
noradrenaline(NOR-uh-dreh-nuh-lin) A chemical made by some nerve cells and in the adrenal gland.
nordihydroguaiaretic acid(NOR-dy-HY-droh-GWY-uh-reh-tik A-sid) A drug put on the skin to treat growths caused by sun exposure.
Norepinephrine(NOR-ep-ih-NEF-rin) A chemical made by some nerve cells and in the adrenal gland.
NosocomialOriginating or taking place in a hospital
Notary PublicA person who serves as a public official and certifies the authenticity of required signatures on a document by signing and stamping the document.
NovantroneA drug used to treat advanced prostate cancer that does not respond to hormones, adult acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, and advanced or chronic multiple…
novobiocinAn antibiotic drug used to treat infection.
Nplate(EN-playt) A drug used to treat patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) who do not get better with other forms of treatment.
NSAIDA drug that decreases fever, swelling, pain, and redness. Also called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
NSC 655649A substance that is being studied in the treatment of cancer. It belongs to the families of drugs called antitumor antibiotics and topoisomerase…
nuclear gradeAn evaluation of the size and shape of the nucleus in tumor cells and the percentage of tumor cells that are in the process of dividing or growing.
nuclear magnetic resonance imaging(NOO-klee-er mag-NEH-tik REH-zuh-nunts IH-muh-jing) A procedure in which radio waves and a powerful magnet linked to a computer are used to create…
nuclear medicine scan(NOO-klee-er MEH-dih-sin SKAN) A method of diagnostic imaging that uses very small amounts of radioactive material.
Nucleotide(NOO-klee-oh-TIDE) A building block for nucleic acids (the molecules inside cells that carry genetic information).
Nucleus(NOO-klee-us) In biology, the structure in a cell that contains the chromosomes.
nurseA health professional trained to care for people who are ill or disabled.
Nursing HomeA place that gives care to people who have physical or mental disabilities and need help with activities of daily living (such as taking a bath, getting…
nutraceuticalA food or dietary supplement that is believed to provide health benefits.
nutrient(NOO-tree-ent) A chemical compound (such as protein, fat, carbohydrate, vitamin, or mineral) contained in foods.
nutrition(noo-TRIH-shun) The taking in and use of food and other nourishing material by the body. Nutrition is a 3-part process. First, food or drink is consumed.
nutrition therapy(noo-TRIH-shun THAYR-uh-pee) Treatment based on nutrition. It includes checking a person's nutrition status, and giving the right foods or nutrients to…
nutritional counseling(noo-TRIH-shuh-nul KOWN-suh-ling) A process by which a health professional with special training in nutrition helps people make healthy food choices and…
nutritional status(noo-TRIH-shuh-nul STA-tus) The state of a person's health in terms of the nutrients in his or her diet.
nutritional supplement(noo-TRIH-shuh-nul SUH-pleh-ment) A product that is added to the diet. A nutritional supplement is taken by mouth, and usually contains one or more…
nutritionistA health professional with special training in nutrition who can help with dietary choices. Also called dietitian.
nystatin(ny-STA-tin) The active ingredient in a drug used to treat infections caused by fungi (a type of microorganism).
O(6)-benzylguanineA drug that may improve the response of cancer cells to chemotherapy.
oat cellAnother name for small cell lung cancer. The name "oat cell" comes from the fact that the cells look like oats. See also extensive SCLC and limited SCLC.
obatoclax mesylate(oh-BAT-oh-klax MEH-zih-layt) A substance being studied in the treatment of several types of cancer.
obeseHaving an abnormally high, unhealthy amount of body fat.
Obesity(oh-BEE-sih-tee) A condition marked by an abnormally high, unhealthy amount of body fat.
objective improvementAn improvement that can be measured by the health care provider (for example, when a tumor shrinks or there are fewer cancer cells in the blood).
oblimersen(oh-blih-MER-sen) A substance being studied in the treatment of cancer. It may kill cancer cells by blocking the production of a protein that makes cancer…
Observation(OB-ser-VAY-shun) Closely monitoring a patient's condition but withholding treatment until symptoms appear or change.
observational studyA type of study in which individuals are observed or certain outcomes are measured.
obsessive-compulsive disorder(ob-SEH-siv kum-PUL-siv dis-OR-der) An anxiety disorder in which a person has intrusive ideas, thoughts, or images that occur repeatedly, and in which he…
obtundation(ob-tun-DAY-shun) A dulled or reduced level of alertness or consciousness.
occult primary tumor(uh-KULT PRY-mayr-ee TOO-mer) Cancer in which the site of the primary (original) tumor cannot be found.
occult stage non-small cell lung cancer(uh-KULT ... KAN-ser) Cancer cells are found in sputum (mucus coughed up from the lungs), but no tumor can be found in the lung by imaging or…
occupational therapistA health professional trained to help people who are ill or disabled learn to manage their daily activities.
octreotideA drug similar to the naturally occurring growth hormone inhibitor somatostatin.
octreotide scanA type of radionuclide scan used to find carcinoid and other types of tumors. Radioactive octreotide, a drug similar to somatostatin, is injected into a…
ocular melanoma(AH-kyoo-ler MEH-luh-NOH-muh) A rare cancer of melanocytes (cells that produce the pigment melanin) found in the eye. Also called intraocular melanoma.
odds ratio(⦠RAY-shee-oh) A measure of the odds of an event happening in one group compared to the odds of the same event happening in another group.
odorant(OH-deh-runt) A substance that gives off a smell.
ofatumumab(oh-FAT-oo-moo-mab) A monoclonal antibody being studied in the treatment of certain types of B-cell cancers including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)…
off-labelDescribes the legal use of a prescription drug to treat a disease or condition for which the drug has not been approved by the U.S.
Office of Healthcare Quality (OHQ)(OHQ)An office of the Department of Health and Human Services. This office works to improve healthcare.
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)(OMB)The office within the executive branch of the Federal government that prepares the President's annual budget, develops the Federal government's fiscal…
ofloxacinAn antibiotic drug used to treat infection. It belongs to the family of drugs called quinolone antibiotics.
OGFOpioid growth factor. A substance made by the body and in the laboratory. It is being studied in the treatment of cancer.