Cancer Vocabulary
Cancer can be a flummoxing topic to learn about. We've all been there- reading 10 articles about what lymphocytes are. Hopefully this list of vocabulary that we have compiled together will help you out.
General Cancer Terms
Cancer - Collection of diseases in which cells divide uncontrollably, don’t die naturally
(see apoptosis), and spread through the body.
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Tumor - A mass of cells causing a lump or swelling. Not necessarily cancerous.
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Tumor Microenvironment (TME): The healthy cells, molecules, blood vessels, and other parts inside or surrounding the tumor (the tumor isn't part of the microenvironment).
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Apoptosis - The natural process by which cells die. Also called “Cell death” or “Cell suicide”.
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Metastasis - The process by which cancerous cells spread through the body through the bloodstream or the lymphatic system.
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Metastatic - Describes a tumor or cancer which spread from/originated somewhere else in the body
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Malignant - A cell which spreads to and invades other parts of the body.
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Angiogenesis - The process by which a new vessel is created from an existing one. Also called “Vessel Sprouting” since the new vessel stems from the existing one.
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Mitogenesis - The triggering of mitosis (cell division) which can cause angiogenesis when affecting the epithelial/endothelial cells.
Immune System Vocabulary
Lymphocyte - A type of white blood cell responsible for immune response.
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Cytotoxic - Anything that kills living cells.
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Epithelial/Endothelial Cells - Cells lining the inside/outside of a vessel respectively.
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Cytokine - A cell signaler; stimulates an immune response to something. These can be manipulated by the Tumor Microenvironment to prevent an immune response.
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Bowel - Just another name for the intestine!
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Jaundice - A symptom in which the whites of the eye and/or the skin begin to turn yellow-ish.