Malignant Blood-Related Cancers - Glossary

Acute lymphocytic leukemia-a rapidly progressing disease marked by the overabundance of immature or functionless white blood cells (lymphoblasts) in the blood or bone marrow; most commonly found in children.

Acute myeloid leukemia-a cancer in which there is uncontrollable growth of functionless cells in the bone marrow and a deficiency of red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells

Aplastic anemia-a rare and serious condition in which the bone marrow stops producing enough red and white blood cells to keep the body healthy, resulting in an increased risk of infection and uncontrollable bleeding

Bone marrow-a spongy tissue inside the bones that manufactures blood cells

Chemotherapy-the administering of a combination of drugs intended to fight cancer; often used in conjunction with radiation therapy or other treatment options

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia-a disease caused by the overabundance of mature white blood cells (lymphocytes) in the body; most commonly found in adults

Chronic myeloid leukemia-a disease that progresses more slowly than acute myeloid leukemia and that is caused by the presence of too many underdeveloped white blood cells (lymphoblasts) in the blood or bone marrow

Hodgkin's Disease-a rare form of cancer triggered by the random, uncontrollable growth of cells in the lymphatic system

Ibitumomab Tiuxetan (Zevalin) - a radioimmunotherapy regimen that uses Rituxan, indium-111 Zevalin, and yttrium-90 Zevalin to target and attack cancerous B-cells in the blood.

Immunotherapy - also known as "biological therapy," immunotherapy triggers the body's immune system to recognize and respond to cancerous cells. Some forms of immunotherapy include interferons, vaccines, and monoclonal antibodies.

Leukemia-a cancer of the blood in which new and functionless cells form and replicate at an uncontrollable rate; leukemia originates in the bone marrow and quickly spreads elsewhere

Lymph nodes-small bundles of lymphatic tissue that remove cell waste and fight infections in the body

Lymphatic system-the body's complex set of organs, cells, and vessels designed to ward off infections, germs, and diseases

Lymphoblast-an underdeveloped, malfunctioning white blood cell

Lymphocyte-white blood cell intended to ward off infection

Lymphoma-a cancer of the lymphatic system in which functionless or defective cells are produced at an alarming rate; lymphomas are classified as either Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's and affect both adults and children

Myelodysplastic syndromes-a disease in which the bone marrow produces new blood cells, but those cells are dysfunctional and insufficiently developed

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma-a cancer in which abnormal lymphocytes (white blood cells) emerge and divide uncontrollably, overcrowding the lymph nodes and impairing their functions

Platelets-a part of the blood that clots bleeding

Radiation therapy-a cancer treatment in which high levels of energy rays are used to destroy or shrink cancer cells; radiation is usually dispensed from inside the body or directly into the tumor

Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) - cancer treatments that combine the effectiveness of radiation therapy with the targeting capacity of immunotherapy. New radioimmunotherapy regimens are in clinical studies and some treatments, such as Zevalin and Bexxar, have recently been approved.

Rituximab (Rituxan) - an immunotherapy drug used to treat a variety of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Clinical studies are underway to determine the efficacy of Rituxan in treating chronic lymphomcytic leukemia (CLL), Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, and other cancers of the blood.

Tositumomab (Bexxar) - a radioimmunotherapy regimen using tositumomab, a monoclonal antibody, and iodine I 131 tositumomab, a radiolabled monoclonal antibody. Bexxar was approved to treat some forms of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in June 2003.

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