Intermediate
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
sanctuary site
Anatomical location where chemotherapy penetration is limited, allowing cancer cells to survive and potentially relapse.
Full Definition
A sanctuary site is an anatomical location where systemic chemotherapy has limited penetration due to physiological barriers, creating a refuge for cancer cells. In pediatric oncology, the most important sanctuary sites are the central nervous system (protected by the blood-brain barrier) and the testes (protected by the blood-testis barrier). These sites require special attention in treatment protocols, often necessitating intrathecal chemotherapy for CNS protection or prophylactic radiation to prevent relapse.
Usage
Usage note: Always used in context of chemotherapy resistance, not physical protection.
In Context
- "CNS prophylaxis is essential to prevent relapse in this sanctuary site." — treatment protocol
- "The blood-brain barrier makes the CNS a sanctuary site for leukemic cells." — medical education material
Also known as
pharmacological sanctuary
Don't confuse with
primary site
metastatic site