Cancer Biology Glossary

A measure of tumor cell proliferation rate based on Ki-67 protein expression, expressed as a percentage.

A non-invasive test that detects cancer-related material in blood or other body fluids.

Abnormal enlargement of lymph nodes that may indicate infection, autoimmune disease, or malignancy including lymphoma or...

Surgical removal of metastatic tumors that have spread from the primary cancer site to distant organs.

A treatment approach using continuous, low-dose chemotherapy without extended drug-free intervals to target tumor vascul...

Epigenetic silencing of the DNA repair gene MGMT through promoter hypermethylation, predictive of alkylating agent chemo...

A molecular phenotype caused by defective DNA mismatch repair, resulting in hypermutation and immunotherapy sensitivity.

A tumor classification indicating normal DNA mismatch repair function and low immunotherapy responsiveness.

Tumor phenotype characterized by widespread instability in microsatellite DNA sequences due to mismatch repair deficienc...

Small numbers of cancer cells that remain after treatment, detectable only through highly sensitive molecular or flow cy...

A cellular defect in DNA repair mechanisms that leads to increased mutation rates in tumors.

A multidisciplinary team that reviews complex cases to recommend treatment based on tumor genomic profiling.

Cancer cell resistance to multiple chemotherapy agents simultaneously.

Treatment given before the primary treatment to shrink a tumor or reduce cancer stage.

A new protein fragment created by tumor mutations that can be recognized by the immune system.

A state of limited metastatic spread where patients have five or fewer distant metastases.

Limited disease progression involving only a few metastatic sites while other disease remains controlled during systemic...

A mutated or overexpressed gene that has the potential to cause cancer.

Abnormal gene rearrangement resulting in a chimeric protein that drives cancer development and progression.

Abnormal metabolite that accumulates in cancer cells and promotes tumorigenesis.

A genomic test that analyzes the expression of 21 genes to predict recurrence risk and chemotherapy benefit in early-sta...

The primary endpoint measuring the time from treatment initiation to death from any cause.

Clinical manifestations that occur in cancer patients but are not directly caused by the physical presence or metastasis...

The absence of residual invasive cancer in the surgical specimen after neoadjuvant therapy.