renal fascia(REE-nul FA-shuh) A fibrous envelope of tissue that surrounds the kidney. Also called Gerota's capsule and Gerota's fascia.
renal function test(REE-nul FUNK-shun...) A test in which blood or urine samples are checked for the amounts of certain substances released by the kidneys.
renal glomerulusA tiny, round cluster of blood vessels within the kidneys. It filters the blood to reabsorb useful materials and remove waste as urine.
renal pelvisThe area at the center of the kidney. Urine collects here and is funneled into the ureter, the tube that connects the kidney to the bladder.
Renal ThresholdConcentration of plasma substance above which the substance appears in the urine.
renal tubular acidosis(REE-nul TOO-byoo-ler A-sih-DOH-sis) A rare disorder in which structures in the kidney that filter the blood are impaired, producing urine that is more…
RenovaA topical preparation of tretinoin that is used to treat acne. Tretinoin is a form of vitamin A.
replicateTo make a copy or duplicate of something.
replication cycle(reh-plih-KAY-shun...) In biology, refers to the reproduction cycle of viruses.
report of a diseaseAn official report that notifies an appropriate health authority of the occurrence of a disease in a human, or in an animal.
Reporting DelayThe time elapsed before a diagnosed cancer case is reported to the NCI. Currently, there is a standard delay of 22 months between the end of the diagnosis…
RepresentativeTerm used to indicate that a sample is similar to the population from which it was drawn, and therefore can be used to make inferences about that…
reproductive cellAn egg or sperm cell. Each mature reproductive cell carries a single set of 23 chromosomes.
reproductive system(REE-proh-DUK-tiv SIS-tem) The organs involved in producing offspring. In women, this system includes the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, the uterus (womb)…
Request for Proposals (RFP)(RFP)An open and competitive process for selecting providers of services (sometimes called RFA or Request for Application).
resectable(ree-SEK-tuh-bul) Able to be removed by surgery.
resection(ree-SEK-shun) A procedure that uses surgery to remove tissue or part or all of an organ.
resectoscope(reh-SEK-toh-skope) A thin, tube-like instrument used to remove tissue from inside the body. A resectoscope has a light and lens for viewing.
ReservoirA reservoir of an infectious agent, such as a virus, is any animal, person, plant, soil, substance—or combination of any of these — in which the…
residual diseaseCancer cells that remain after attempts to remove the cancer have been made.
resiquimod(reh-SIH-kwih-mod) A substance being studied in the treatment of some types of skin cancer.
ResistanceThe ability of an organism to develop ways to be impervious to specific threats to their existence.
resistant cancerCancer that does not respond to treatment. The cancer may be resistant at the beginning of treatment, or it may become resistant during treatment.
resorptionA process in which a substance, such as tissue, is lost by being destroyed and then absorbed by the body.
Resource AllocationThe Part A planning council responsibility to assign Ryan White HIV/AIDS Programt amounts or percentages to established priorities across specific service…
respirator(RES-pih-RAY-ter) In medicine, a machine used to help a patient breathe. Also called ventilator.
Respiratory DepressionSlowing of respiration (breathing) that results in the reduced availability of oxygen to vital organs.
respiratory syncytial virus(RES-pih-ruh-TOR-ee sin-SIH-shul VY-rus) A virus that causes respiratory infections with cold-like symptoms. Also called RSV.
respiratory system(RES-pih-ruh-TOR-ee SIS-tem) The organs that are involved in breathing. These include the nose, throat, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs.
respiratory therapist(RES-pih-ruh-TOR-ee THAYR-uh-pist) A health professional trained to evaluate and treat people who have breathing problems or other lung disorders.
respiratory therapy(RES-pih-ruh-TOR-ee THAYR-uh-pee) Exercises and treatments that help improve or restore lung function.
respiratory tract(RES-pih-ruh-TOR-ee trakt) The organs that are involved in breathing. These include the nose, throat, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs.
response(reh-SPONTS) In medicine, an improvement related to treatment.
response rate(reh-SPONTS...) The percentage of patients whose cancer shrinks or disappears after treatment.
Rest PainAn unpleasant sensation associated with actual or potential tissue damage, occurring usually in the extremities during body inactivity while sitting or…
restingIn biology, refers to a cell that is not dividing.
resveratrol(rez-VEER-uh-trol) A substance found in the skins of grapes and in certain other plants, fruits, and seeds.
retch (RECH)The action of the stomach and esophagus to try to vomit (eject some or all of the contents of the stomach).
Retin-AA topical preparation of tretinoin that is used to treat acne. Tretinoin is a form of vitamin A.
Retin-A-MicroA topical preparation of tretinoin that is used to treat acne. Tretinoin is a form of vitamin A.
retina(RET-ih-nuh) The light-sensitive layers of nerve tissue at the back of the eye that receive images and sends them as electric signals through the optic…
retinoblastoma(REH-tih-noh-blas-TOH-muh) Cancer that forms in the tissues of the retina (the light-sensitive layers of nerve tissue at the back of the eye).
Retinoic acid(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.
retinyl palmitateA drug that is being studied in the prevention of cancer. It belongs to the family of drugs called retinoids.
retromolar trigone(reh-troh-MOH-ler TRY-gone) The small area behind the wisdom teeth.
retroperitoneal(REH-troh-PAYR-ih-toh-NEE-ul) Having to do with the area outside or behind the peritoneum (the tissue that lines the abdominal wall and covers most of the…
retropubic prostatectomy(reh-troh-PYOO-bik PROS-tuh-TEK-toh-mee) Surgery to remove the prostate through an incision made in the wall of the abdomen.
RetrospectiveLooking back at events that have already taken place.
retrospective cohort studyA research study in which the medical records of groups of individuals who are alike in many ways but differ by a certain characteristic (for example…
retrospective studyA study that compares two groups of people: those with the disease or condition under study (cases) and a very similar group of people who do not have the…
retroviral vectorRNA from a virus that is used to insert genetic material into cells.
retrovirus(REH-troh-VY-rus) A type of virus that has RNA instead of DNA as its genetic material.
reverse transcription(ree-VERS tran-SKRIP-shun) In biology, the process in cells by which an enzyme makes a copy of DNA from RNA.
ReVia(reh-VEE-uh) A drug that blocks the action of opiates (drugs used to treat pain).
ReviewA review is the basis of FDA's decision to approve an application. It is a comprehensive analysis of clinical trial data and other information prepared by…
Review ClassificationThe NDA and BLA classification system provides a way of describing drug applications upon initial receipt and throughout the review process and…
Revlimid(REV-lih-mid) A drug that is similar to thalidomide, and is used to treat multiple myeloma and certain types of anemia.
RevM10 geneAn antiviral gene that is being studied in the treatment of cancer in patients who have HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
Reye syndrome(RAY SIN-drome) A rare disease that damages the brain and liver and causes death if not treated.
rF-TRICOMA cancer vaccine made with a form of a chicken virus that does not cause disease in humans. It is being studied in the treatment of some types of cancer.
RFT5-dgA immunotoxin(... IH-myoo-noh-TOK-sin) A monoclonal antibody linked to a toxic substance. It is being studied in the treatment of melanoma that has spread to distant…
rhabdoid tumorA malignant tumor of either the central nervous system (CNS) or the kidney. Malignant rhabdoid tumors of the CNS often have an abnormality of chromosome…
rhabdomyosarcoma(RAB-doh-MY-oh-sar-KOH-muh) Cancer that forms in the soft tissues in a type of muscle called striated muscle.
rheumatismA group of disorders marked by inflammation or pain in the connective tissue structures of the body. These structures include bone, cartilage, and fat.
Rheumatoid arthritis(ROO-muh-TOYD ar-THRY-tis) An autoimmune disease that causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints, and may cause severe joint damage, loss of…
Rheumatrex(ROO-muh-trex) A drug used to treat some types of cancer, severe skin conditions such as psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
rhIL-11A drug used to increase the number of blood cells, especially platelets, in some cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.
rhinoscope(RY-noh-skope) A thin, tube-like instrument used to examine the inside of the nose.
rhinoscopy(ry-NOS-koh-pee) Examination of the inside of the nose using a rhinoscope. A rhinoscope is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for…
rhizoxinA substance that is being studied in the treatment of cancer. It comes from a fungus and is similar to vinca alkaloid drugs.
rhubarb(ROO-barb) The root of this plant has been used in some cultures to treat certain medical problems. It may have anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects.
ribavirinA drug used to treat respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in the lungs.
ribonucleic acid(RY-boh-noo-KLAY-ik A-sid) One of the two types of nucleic acids found in all cells.
ribonucleotide reductase inhibitorA family of anticancer drugs that interfere with the growth of tumor cells by blocking the formation of deoxyribonucleotides (building blocks of DNA).
Richter syndrome(RIK-ter SIN-drome) A rare condition in which chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) changes into a fast-growing type of lymphoma.
Richter transformation(RIK-ter TRANZ-for-MAY-shun) A rare condition in which chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) changes into a fast-growing type of lymphoma.
rifampinA drug used in the treatment of infections caused by bacteria. It belongs to the family of drugs called antibiotics.
risedronate(ris-ED-roe-nate) A substance that is being studied in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.
RiskThe possibility of loss; the uncertainty of future returns.
risk factorSomething that may increase the chance of developing a disease. Some examples of risk factors for cancer include age, a family history of certain cancers…
Risk Factor or Risk BehaviorBehavior or other factor that places a person at risk for disease; for HIV/AIDS, this includes such factors as male-to-male sexual contact, injection drug…
risk factorsTraits that make it more likely that a person will get an illness. For example, a risk factor for getting type 2 diabetes is having a family history of…
Risk ratioSome investors and financial analysts try to estimate the risk an investment poses by speculating on how much the investment is likely to increase in…
ritonavirA drug that belongs to the family of drugs called protease inhibitors. It interferes with the ability of a virus to make copies of itself.
Ritual(RIH-chuh-wul) In medicine, a repeated action (such as hand washing) done to relieve feelings of fear, dread, and uneasiness.
Rituxan(rih-TUK-sun) A monoclonal antibody used to treat certain types of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
rituximab(rih-TUK-sih-mab) A monoclonal antibody used to treat certain types of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
RK-0202A substance that is being studied in the prevention of oral mucositis in patients receiving radiation therapy or chemotherapy for head and neck cancer.
RMP-7A substance that is being studied for its ability to help other drugs reach the brain. It belongs to the family of drugs called bradykinin agonists.
RNAOne of the two types of nucleic acids found in all cells. In the cell, RNA is made from DNA (the other type of nucleic acid), and proteins are made from…
Ro 31-7453A substance that is being studied in the treatment of cancer. It may prevent cancer cells from dividing.
Ro 50-3821A substance that is being studied in the treatment of anemia in patients who are receiving chemotherapy.
rofecoxib(ROH-feh-COK-sib) A drug that was being used for pain relief and was being studied for its ability to prevent cancer and to block the growth of new blood…