-
a
- Absolute neutrophil count (ANC)The number of white blood cells in the blood that are neutrophils; a low ANC indicates neutropenia and a possible increased risk of infection.
- Accelerated Approval
Designation assigned to a drug by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) intended to make promising products for life-threatening diseases available on the market on the basis of preliminary evidence prior to formal demonstration of patient benefit. In this case, clinical studies and(...) - Actionable target
A genetic mutation that causes cancer to develop and for which a drug can block its cancer-causing activity.
- Active immunotherapy
Type of immunotherapy that stimulates the body to mount an immune response; an example is a vaccine.
- Active multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma in which the percentage of plasma cells in the bone marrow is greater than 10% and in which the patient shows one or more CRAB symptoms (see definition at CRAB).
- Adaptive immunity
The part of the immune system that is composed of highly specialized cells designed to recognize foreign invaders and attack them any time they enter the body.
- Adhesion molecules
Complementary molecules present on cell surfaces that allow cells to interact with each other, acting in the same way as a lock and key.
- Adjuvant
(1) When referring to vaccines, an adjuvant is a substance administered as part of, or along with, a vaccine that increases its effectiveness by strengthening the immune response against the vaccine. (2) Adjuvant therapy also refers to a treatment that is given in addition to a standard(...) - Adriamycin (doxorubicin)
A type of chemotherapy which is given intravenously (into a vein). It is part of an older type of myeloma treatment called VAD. VAD consists of the combination of Vincristine (another chemotherapy drug), Adriamycin, and dexamethasone which is a steroid.
- Adverse event (AE)
Any unfavorable and unintended sign (including an abnormal laboratory finding), symptom, or disease that occurs after a medical treatment or procedure; AEs may or may not be related to the treatment or procedure. An adverse event is a term that is a unique representation of a specific event(...) - Albumin
Major protein found in the blood; albumin level can indicate a person's overall health and nutritional status.
- Alkeran®
See Melphalan.
- Allogeneic stem cell transplant
Procedure in which stem cells from another person are transplanted into a patient.
- Allograft
Allogeneic stem cell transplant.
- Aloxi® (palonosetron)
A type of medicine used to prevent or treat nausea and vomiting as a result of cancer treatment. It is given intravenously (into a vein).
- Alpha interferon
Cytokine produced by T cells that exhibits a variety of immunomodulating effects, including suppression of cell growth and enhancement of tumor cell killing.
- Amyloid protein
Fiber-like substance, often composed of light chains and other proteins, that can accumulate in and damage various tissues and organs.
- Amyloidosis
Condition related to multiple myeloma whereby a patient’s light chains can clump together to form insoluble protein fibers known as amyloid fibrils. Amyloid fibrils can accumulate in various tissues and organs, disrupting their normal functions. Rarely, patients with myeloma may also develop(...) - Anemia
Decrease in the number of red blood cells in the blood.
- Angiogenesis
Growth of new blood vessels.
- Anthracycline
Class of anticancer drugs that includes doxorubicin (Adriamycin®) and related compounds such as daunorubicin and daunomycin.
- Antibody
Protein produced by plasma cells that helps protect the body from infection and disease (also called immunoglobulin; see also monoclonal antibody).
- Antibody-drug conjugate (ADC)
A monoclonal antibody that is coupled to a drug (such as a toxin, a radioactive isotope, or a chemotherapy); one example is Blenrep.
- Antiemetic
Drug that prevents or relieves nausea and vomiting.
- Antigen
Substance that stimulates the production of an antibody to which it subsequently binds.
- Antimicrobial
Drug that kills or slows the growth of bacteria.
- Anzemet® (dolasetron)
A type of medicine used to prevent or treat nausea and vomiting as a result of cancer treatment. It is given intravenously (into a vein).
- Apheresis
A procedure in which blood is taken from a patient, part of the blood (such as white blood cells) is taken out, and the rest of the blood is returned to the patient.
- Apoptosis
Programmed (natural) cell death.
- Asthenia
Marked loss of body strength.
- Autograft
Autologous stem cell transplant.
- Autoimmune diseases
Illnesses that occur when the body tissues are attacked by its own immune system.
- Autologous
From the patient. In myeloma, this term usually refers to a commonly used type of stem cell transplantation where the patient serves as their own donor.
- Autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT)
Procedure in which stem cells collected from a patient are transplanted back into that patient; the most common type of transplant performed in myeloma.
- Autologous transplant
Transplant whereby the patient’s own cells or tissues are collected and reinfused or transplanted.
-
b
- B cell
White blood cell that gives rise to a plasma cell (plasma cells produce antibodies, which fight infections).
- B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)
A protein found on the surface of myeloma cells.
- B lymphocyte
See B cell.
- Balloon kyphoplasty
Procedure used to treat fractures in the spine (see kyphoplasty).
- Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)
Growth factor that promotes angiogenesis (the growth of new blood vessels); also known as FGF-2.
- Bcl-2
Protein made by cancer cells that is thought to block chemotherapy-induced cell death.
- Bence-Jones protein
See Light chain.
- Beta 2-microglobulin (ß2-microglobulin or ß2-M)
Protein normally found on the surface of various cells in the body; levels of ß2M in the blood are elevated in inflammatory conditions and in certain blood cell disorders, such as multiple myeloma.
- Biaxin (clarithromycin)
Type of antibiotic.
- Bispecific antibody
A monoclonal antibody that can simultaneously bind to two different cell surface proteins.
- Bisphosphonate
Type of drug used to treat osteoporosis and bone disease.
- Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
Byproduct of protein metabolism that is normally filtered out of the blood and found in the urine; elevated levels in the blood can indicate decreased kidney function.
- Bone marrow
Soft, spongy tissue found in the center of many bones and the site of blood cell production.
- Bone marrow aspiration
Removal of fluid and cells of the bone marrow via use of a needle.
- Bone marrow biopsy
Removal of a sample of bone marrow for examination; performed using a needle.
- Bone remodeling
Process of normal bone maintenance whereby old, worn-out bone is broken down and removed by osteoclast cells and new bone is formed by osteoblast cells.
- Bone resorption
The normal process of breaking down of bone by osteoclasts during bone remodeling. Bone resorption can be increased in myeloma.
- Bone (skeletal) survey
Series of X-rays of the skull, spine, arms, ribs and legs.
-
c
- C-reactive protein (CRP)
Protein produced by the liver when there is an inflammatory process occurring in the body. Serum levels of CRP are increased in various inflammatory diseases, degenerative diseases and cancers, including myeloma. Lower levels are associated with a more favorable prognosis in myeloma.
- Calcium
Mineral that is important in bone formation; elevated serum levels occur when there is bone destruction.
- Cancer vaccine
A cell-based or protein-based immunotherapy in which cancer cells (such as myeloma cells) are mixed with immune-stimulating agents or engineered and injected into a patient to boost the immune response.
- Catheter
A thin flexible tube that is inserted into the body. For example, it may be inserted into a vein in order to give drugs, blood or nutrients. Catheters are also used to take blood or empty the bladder.
- CD34+
Cell surface marker. CD stands for cluster of differentiation and the 34+ indicates a specific antigen for which this cell is positive. Stem cells are CD34+.
- Checkpoint inhibitor
A naked antibody that interferes with proteins that enable a cancer cell to hide from, overpower, or resist the immune system; by blocking these proteins, the “brakes” on the immune system are released and immune cells are able to kill cancer cells.
- Chemistry profile
Blood test that determines levels of several chemical compounds in the blood at one time. Of particular importance in myeloma are levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), calcium, creatinine and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH).
- Chemobrain
Constellation of symptoms, such as loss of memory, difficulty with language and lack of concentration, that have been reported by cancer patients who receive chemotherapy; also known as cognitive dysfunction.
- Chemotherapy
The use of drugs to kill rapidly dividing cells, such as cancer cells.
- Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR T) cell therapy
A form of immunotherapy in which a patient’s immune cells (mostly T cells) are collected, engineered in a lab to be better able to identify and attack myeloma cells, and then returned to the patient; examples are Abecma and Carvykti.
- Chromosomal abnormality
Defect or variation in a chromosome; in some people with multiple myeloma, a piece of one or more chromosomes may be missing or swapped with another piece from a different chromosome; deletion p13 and t(4;14) are examples of chromosomal abnormalities.
- Chromosomal deletion
Chromosomal abnormality in which a segment of a chromosome is missing; del(17p) is an example of a chromosomal deletion.
- Chromosomal translocation
Chromosomal abnormality in which segments of two chromosomes switch positions; t(4;14) and t(11;14) are examples of chromosomal translocations.
- Chromosome
Thread-like structure in a living cell that contains DNA (genetic information).
- Chromosome analysis (cytogenetic testing)
Laboratory test that measures the number and structure of chromosomes.
- Clinical trial
A study of the safety and effectiveness of a therapeutic agent using consenting human subjects.
- Colony-stimulating factor (CSF)
Protein that stimulates the development and growth of blood cells; sometimes called growth factor. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor is a CSF that is used to mobilize stem cells from the bone marrow into the bloodstream prior to apheresis.
- Complete blood count (CBC)
Blood test that measures the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the blood and the relative proportions of the white blood cells present.
- Complete remission
See complete response
- Complete response (CR)
A treatment outcome where there are ≤5% plasma cells in the bone marrow and no evidence of myeloma proteins in the serum or urine as measured by standard laboratory techniques.
- Computed tomography (CT)
Imaging technique that uses a computer to generate 3-dimensional X-ray pictures; also known as computerized axial tomography (CT).
- Computerized axial tomography (CAT)
See Computed tomography (CT).
- Conditioning regimen
Combination of chemotherapy and/or radiation treatments administered over a period of several days prior to stem cell transplantation in order to kill cancer cells.
- Consolidation Therapy
Anti-myeloma treatment given after the initial therapy in order to further reduce the number of cancer cells.
- Conventional chemotherapy
Administration of chemotherapy at a dose that does not completely destroy the bone marrow; also known as standard-dose chemotherapy.
- Cord blood transplant
Type of transplant where the stem cells are obtained from the umbilical cord and placenta (afterbirth) following the delivery of a baby. These cells are frozen for future use.
- Corticosteroid
Potent class of drugs that has anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive and antitumor effects. Dexamethasone and prednisone are examples of corticosteroids.
- Coumadin® (also known as warfarin)
A pill that is a type of blood thinner. It is used to prevent blood clots.
- CR
See complete response
- Creatinine
Product of energy metabolism of muscle that is normally filtered out of the blood and found in the urine. Elevated levels in the blood can indicate decreased kidney function.
- Cryoglobulinemia
Condition that occurs when a myeloma protein is of a specific type that comes out of solution as particles when exposed to cold temperatures. These particles may block small blood vessels and cause symptoms such as pain and numbness in the fingers and toes in cold weather.
- Cryopreservation
A method of freezing cells that permits storage over an extended period.
- Cure
Treatment outcome where there is complete and lasting recovery from disease. This has not yet been achieved in myeloma.
- Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL)
A type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma which is a cancer of the immune system.
- Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)
A protein that acts as an enzyme to enhance the production of prostaglandins responsible for promoting inflammation.
- Cyclophosphamide
Type of chemotherapy. Brand names include Cytoxan® and Neosar®.
- Cyclosporine
Immunosuppressive drug used following allogeneic transplants that helps prevent graft-versus-host disease (donor cells attacking the recipient’s cells).
- Cytogenetic testing
See Chromosome analysis.
- Cytokine
Soluble factor produced by cells that influences other cells.
- Cytoxan®
See Cyclophosphamide.
-
d
- Decadron® (dexamethasone)
Type of corticosteroid used in the treatment of myeloma. Decadron is part of many combination chemotherapy regimens.
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
Serious condition where a blood clot forms in one of the deep veins in the body, usually in the legs or lower abdomen. DVT is treated with a blood thinner (also called an anticoagulant).
- Demographic
A particular group within a population.
- Dendritic cell
A type of immune cell that is found in tissues (such as the skin) and that boosts immune responses by showing parts of proteins on its surface to other cells of the immune system.
- Dexamethasone
A steroid used in the treatment of multiple myeloma, often in combination with another anti-myeloma drug. Decadron® is one brand of dexamethasone.
- Dialysis
Procedure in which blood is removed from a patient, purified, and returned to the patient; commonly used in patients with kidney disease, this procedure essentially replaces the function of the damaged or diseased kidney.
- Disease-free survival
The length of time during and after treatment in which a patient is living with a disease that does not get worse; also referred to as progression-free survival (PFS).
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