Ablative Transplants
Ablative Transplants: stem cell transplant using high-dose chemotherapy to destroy diseased cells and suppress the immune system; also known as "full dose" or "standard" allogeneic transplant. The patient undergoes several days of high-dose chemotherapy and possibly radiation. This is known as the conditioning regimen . The donor stem cells are then infused into the patient. This type of transplant serves three purposes: first, it destroys diseased cells, second, it suppresses the immune system to prevent rejection of the donor's healthy stem cells, and third, it creates a graft versus malignancy effect. The graft (donor cells) recognizes the cancer (malignancy) as foreign and attacks it. This ablative therapy is typically given to patients with a highly aggressive disease process.
Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC)
ANC (Absolute Neutrophil Count): the subset of the white blood cells that directly fight infections.
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)
Acute Lymphoblastic or Lymphocytic Leukemia is also known as ALL.
Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia (AML)
Acute Myeloblastic, Myelogenous, or Myelocytic Leukemia is also known as AML.
Afebrile
Afebrile: without fever.
Allogeneic Transplant (Allo)
Allogeneic Transplant (Allo): a stem cell transplant from one person to another. Stem cell donors may be related or unrelated.
Alopecia
Alopecia: loss of hair.
Anemia
Anemia: a lower than normal number of red blood cells circulating in the blood.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics: antibiotics are administered to fight off infections—from colds to more serious illnesses—at the first sign of infection or as a preventative measure.
Antiemetic
Antiemetic: a group of drugs used to control nausea and vomiting.
Antimicrobial
Antimicrobial: medications given for prevention and treatment of bacterial, viral, and fungal infections.
Apheresis
Apheresis: a procedure that circulates blood through a machine to remove cell components, for example, stem cells, platelets.
Arterial Blood Gas (ABG)
Arterial Blood Gas (ABG): a test performed on blood drawn from an artery that identifies the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.
Ascites
Ascites: accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity, often due to liver damage.
Aspirate
Aspirate: to remove by suction.
Autologous Transplant (Auto)
Autologous Transplant (Auto): a stem cell transplant where a patient's cells are collected, frozen, then returned to the patient.
Biologic Therapy
Biologic Therapy: stimulating or restoring the ability of the patient’s immune system to fight cancer.
Biopsy
Biopsy: the removal of tissue for the purpose of assisting and diagnosis; the removal of cells or tissues that are viewed under a microscope for signs of cancer.
Blast Crisis
Blast Crisis: an advanced stage of chronic myelogenous leukemia, similar to acute leukemia, where there are a large number of immature "blast" cells circulating in the blood stream.
Blood Chemistry Studies: measuring the amounts of certain substances released into the blood by organs and tissues in the body. An unusual amount of a substance can be a sign of disease in the organ or tissue that produces it.
Blood Immunoglobulin Studies
Blood Immunoglobulin Studies: checking blood samples to measure the amounts of antibodies (immunoglobulin) and other proteins made by the myeloma cells.
Blood Transfusions
Blood Transfusions: replacing the patient’s blood with blood from a donor. Blood transfusions are not a cure for aplastic anemia, but they relieve symptoms by providing healthy blood cells that the patient’s blood cannot produce.
Blood Typing & Cross-Matching
Blood Typing & Cross-Matching: red blood cells contain factors which are not the same in all people. Before giving a transfusion, blood samples from donor and patient are typed (i.e., A, AB, B, 0) to see if they match. Once typed, the samples are cross-matched to double-check that they are compatible.
Bone Marrow
Bone Marrow (BM): the soft, sponge-like material in the center of bones that produces blood cells.
Bone Marrow Transplantation
Bone Marrow Transplantation: replacing diseased bone marrow with healthy bone marrow from a donor. After an appropriate donor is found, the diseased bone marrow in the patient is depleted with radiation or chemotherapy, then healthy marrow from the donor is extracted and injected intravenously into the bloodstream of the patient where it migrates to the bone marrow to begin generating new blood cells.
CAT or CT Scan (Computed Tomography Scan)
CAT or CT Scan (Computed Tomography Scan): a series of x-rays of various sections of the body, including intravenous pyelography (IVP) using a special dye to outline the urinary system, lymphangiography using a special dye that outlines the lymph system in the abdomen, and ultrasonography which creates a picture from the echoes of high-frequency sound waves bounded off internal organs.
CD34+
CD34+: is a visually distinguishing feature of a stem cell not found in other cells. This unique feature helps us count the number of stem cells in your blood stream and aids in collecting stem cells.
CLL
CLL: Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.
CML
CML: Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia.
Candida
Candida: a type of yeast, common to the mucosa, that can cause infection in immune-suppressed patients.
Carcinoma In Situ
Carcinoma In Situ: early stage cancer when it is confined to the place where it started.
Central Venous Catheter (CVC)
Central Venous Catheter (CVC): a tube surgically placed in a large vein in the upper chest or neck (e.g., Opti Flow, HICKMAN® Catheter, Quinton, GROSHONG® Catheter). Fluids, such as blood and/or chemotherapy, may be infused through this catheter and blood samples can be withdrawn from it.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy: drugs used to treat diseases by destroying abnormal cells or slowing their growth; administering anticancer drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or stopping the cells from dividing (regular or high-dose).
Chest X - Ray (CXR)
Chest X - Ray (CXR): a radiologic study of the chest that includes the heart, lungs, and ribs.
Clinical Trial
Clinical Trial: the study of the effects of drugs, equipment, or procedures according to a formal research plan for a particular disease or group of diseases; a research study meant to help improve current treatments or obtain information on new treatments. Clinical trials are taking place testicular cancer over the country. Information about ongoing clinical trials is available from the National Cancer Institute Website.
Conditioning Regimen
Conditioning Regimen: chemotherapy, radiation and/or immunosuppressive agents given in preparation for stem cell transplant.
Cord Blood Stem Cells
Cord Blood Stem Cells: Stem cells harvested from the umbilical cord immediately following delivery.
Core Biopsy
Core Biopsy: removal of part of a lump or suspicious tissue using a wide needle.
Cryopreservation
Cryopreservation: to preserve by freezing. Autologous patients will have their stem cells cryopreserved after collection then thawed prior to transplant.
Culture
Culture: a sample of a body fluid (e.g., blood, urine) or tissue taken to detect the presence of an infection and to identify the organism responsible.
Cytogenetic Analysis
Cytogenetic Analysis: a test in which cells from the patient’s blood or bone marrow are viewed under a microscope to look for specific changes in chromosomes, such as the Philadelphia chromosome.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
Cytomegalovirus (CMV): a virus that is detectable in the majority of adults. The virus often reactivates when a patient is immunosuppressed. When active, the virus can cause an infection in the lungs (pneumonia), intestine (enteritis), or blood (viremia).
Cytoxan® (CTX or CY)
Cytoxan® (CTX or CY): the brand name of a chemotherapy drug (cyclophosphamide) used to destroy cancer cells or to mobilize stem cells.
DLCO
DLCO: a test of the lungs that determines the amount of oxygen taken into the body and carbon dioxide expelled.
Day 0 (Zero)
Day 0: the day a patient receives his/her stem cell transplant. The days before transplant are called "minus days" (e.g., Day Ð 7 means there are seven days until transplant) and the days following transplant are called "plus days" (e.g., Day +2 is two days after transplant).
Differential (diff)
Differential (diff): the breakdown of the white blood cell components, such as lymphocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils and monocytes.
Donor Cell Infusion (DCI)
Donor Cell Infusion (DCI): an additional infusion of donor cells given to Allogeneic patients following their transplant to induce a Graft versus Malignancy effect.
Donor Lymphocyte Infusion
Donor Lymphocyte Infusion: DLI may be used after a stem cell transplantation. Lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) from the stem cell transplant donor are removed from the donor’s blood and stored. The donor’s lymphocytes are then given to the patient through one or more infusions. The lymphocytes see the patient’s cancer cells as not belonging and attack them.
Electrolytes
Electrolytes (lytes): mineral salts that are normally found in the blood stream. The correct level of each electrolyte is important for the overall functioning of the body. Examples are sodium, potassium, and magnesium.
Electrophoresis
Electrophoresis: test in which blood or urine samples are checked for M proteins.
Emesis
Emesis: vomiting.
Engraftment
Engraftment: the growth of new bone marrow cells following transplant. White blood cell engraftment is determined by the ANC: three consecutive ANC's greater than 500 define engraftment.
Estrogen or Progesterone Receptor Test
Estrogen or Progesterone Receptor Test: measures the amount of estrogen and progesterone hormone receptors in cancer tissue showing whether hormone therapy may be effective in stopping the cancer from growing.
Etoposide
Etoposide: A type of chemotherapy that inhibits cancer cell growth.
Excisional Biopsy
Excisional Biopsy: removal of an entire lump or suspicious tissue.