Medical Oncology Glossary

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy, an advanced technique allowing precise radiation dose sculpting around target vol...

Initial treatment given to induce remission or reduce tumor burden before definitive therapy.

A measure of cellular proliferation expressed as the percentage of Ki-67 positive tumor cells, used in cancer prognosis...

A blood test that detects cancer-related material such as circulating tumor cells or DNA, used for diagnosis and monitor...

Abnormal enlargement of lymph nodes, which may indicate malignancy or other disease processes.

Presence of tumor cells within lymphatic or blood vessel spaces, indicating increased metastatic potential.

Multidisciplinary team meeting where specialists collaborate on cancer patient care.

Surgical removal of metastatic tumor deposits, typically performed for selected patients with limited metastatic disease...

Genetic condition affecting DNA repair that influences cancer treatment selection.

A tumor phenotype characterized by widespread mutations in repetitive DNA sequences, predictive of immunotherapy respons...

Describes tumors with intact DNA mismatch repair mechanisms, typically associated with lower response to immunotherapy.

Small numbers of cancer cells remaining after treatment that are undetectable by standard imaging or clinical examinatio...

Condition characterized by abnormal production of identical immunoglobulin proteins, often precancerous in hematologic c...

Maximum tolerated dose, the highest treatment dose associated with acceptable toxicity.

Inflammation and ulceration of mucous membranes caused by cancer treatment.

Suppression of bone marrow function resulting in decreased production of blood cells, commonly caused by chemotherapy or...

Treatment given before the primary treatment to shrink a tumor and improve outcomes.

Abnormally low level of neutrophils, increasing infection risk in cancer patients.

A state of limited metastatic disease with few lesions that may be amenable to local therapy.

A mutated or overexpressed gene that promotes cancer development by driving abnormal cell growth and division.

A genomic assay that analyzes gene expression to predict chemotherapy benefit and recurrence risk in breast cancer.

Normal tissue structure that may receive significant radiation dose during cancer treatment, requiring dose limitation.

Time from treatment start or randomization until death from any cause.

Specialized medical care focused on symptom relief and quality of life improvement.