Herceptin Resources | Breast Cancer Glossary

adjuvant care

is defined as additional treatment given after the main treatment plan to decrease the chance of recurrence. Adjuvant therapy for breast cancer can include chemotherapy, hormone therapy, radiation therapy, or biological therapy

anemia

a decreased number of red blood cells and a reduced volume of hemoglobin (the protein within red blood cells that carries oxygen)

anthracyclines

a class of chemotherapy drugs used to inhibit or prevent the development and growth of cancer cells

antibody

a protein that is present in the blood, made by cells of the immune system to fight infection. Some antibodies are a normal part of the body's immune defense, and others are made in response to a foreign substance. Scientists can make antibodies that target specific types of cells in the body.

anti-estrogen

used to treat breast cancers that depend on estrogen for growth

archived tissue

tissue biopsy samples that have been preserved in wax for future study; ask your doctor about the location of your stored tissue

biologic therapy

treatment that uses substances derived from living cells

biopsy

biotechnology

cardiac dysfunction

cardiac ejection fraction

the amount of blood released in the heart with each heartbeat; this may be used to measure the loss of heart muscle function

cardiotoxicity

toxicity that affects the heart

cell

the fundamental, structural and functional unit of living organisms

cell nucleus
the control center of the cell where genetic material is located

chemotherapy

the treatment of cancer using chemicals or drugs that are destructive to cells and tissues

clinical trial

a research study designed to answer specific questions about new therapies or new drugs

core biopsy

a type of biopsy where a needle is used to remove a small core of tissue for study

cyclophosphamide

class of chemotherapy drugs that promotes cancer cell death

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DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

the building blocks of the genetic code, located in the cell nucleus

doxorubicin

included in a class of chemotherapy drugs (anthracyclines) used to inhibit or prevent the development and growth of cancer cells

ductal carcinoma

breast cancer that begins in the milk ducts of breasts. This is the most common type of breast cancer

ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)

a noninvasive, precancerous condition in which abnormal cells are found in the lining of a breast duct. The abnormal cells have not spread outside the duct to other tissues in the breast. Sometimes DCIS may become invasive cancer and spread to other tissues, although it is not known at this time how to predict which lesions will become invasive

early-stage breast cancer

breast cancer that has not spread beyond the breast or the axillary lymph nodes (under the arms), usually stages 0, I, and some stage III

estrogen receptors (ER)

a special type of protein found on some cancer cells. Estrogen attaches to the receptor, and this can cause the cancer cells to grow

fine-needle aspiration

a type of biopsy where a needle is used to remove a few cells to be examined under a microscope

first-line

first therapy for the condition being treated

fluorescence in-situ hybridization(FISH)

a method of testing tissue samples to determine if there is a gene abnormality in the cells, including the overexpression of HER2

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gene

portion of DNA that directs the production of a specific protein

gene alteration

any change or difference in the usual makeup or function of a gene, including changes that result in too much or not enough of a protein being produced, or alterations in the property of the protein produced

gene amplification

the presence of a greater than normal number of copies of a gene in a cell

HER2 gene

a gene that directs the cell to produce HER2 growth factor receptors on the cell's surface which can control the growth and division of the cell

HER2-negative

indicates that a biopsy revealed a normal level of the HER2 gene or protein

HER2-positive

indicates that a biopsy revealed abnormally high levels of the HER2 gene or protein

HER2 protein (receptor)

also called the HER2 receptor; a cell-surface protein that helps control normal cell growth, cell division, and cell survival

HER2 protein overexpression

the excess production of HER2 receptors that results from a change in the HER2 gene in cancer cells; thought to cause cancer cells to grow and divide more quickly

HER2 receptor

Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2, one of the many proteins on a cell's surface that signals the cell to divide and helps control normal cell growth, cell division, and cell survival

hormone therapy

administering hormones, such as anti-estrogen, to help block hormone uptake in tumors

immunohistochemistry (IHC)

a method that uses antibodies to identify, locate, and stain specific protein molecules in tissue sections (using a microscope), such as overexpression of HER2lymph nodes

intravenous infusion

introduction of a solution, such as various cancer therapies, into the body through a vein using a small catheter or a central line

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leukopenia

an abnormally low number of white blood cells in the blood; white blood cells help to fight infection

lobular carcinoma

cancer that begins in the lobules of the breast. If the abnormal cells are only in the lobules, then the condition is called lobular carcinoma in situ (see below). If the cancer spreads outside the lobules, it is invasive lobular carcinoma

lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)

a condition in which abnormal cells are found only in the lobules of the breast. LCIS seldom becomes invasive cancer, but having lobular carcinoma in situ in one breast increases the risk of developing breast cancer in either breast

lobule

milk-producing glands in the breast

lymph node

small bean-shaped collections of immune system tissue such as lymphocytes; located along lymphatic vessels

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malignant

cancerous

margin

the normal tissues around a tumor

mechanism of action

the method by which a drug or therapy affects the body in order to produce a specific result

metastatic breast cancer

breast cancer that has spread to other sites in the body; also referred to as invasive or infiltrating

monoclonal antibody

an antibody produced in a laboratory by making multiple copies of a single cell; designed to recognize a specific protein on certain cells and signal the body's immune system to destroy the cell

myelosuppressive chemotherapy

chemotherapy that can suppress the production of blood cells by your bone marrow

natural killer cells

immune system cells that destroy foreign bodies or abnormal cells that are marked with antibodies

neutropenia

a decreased number of a specific kind of white blood cell, known as neutrophils, that help fight infection

nodal status

indicates whether a breast cancer has spread (node-positive) or has not spread (node-negative) to lymph nodes in the armpit (axillary nodes)

node dissection

lymph nodes in the armpit are removed and examined to find out if cancer has spread

oncologist

a doctor who treats patients with cancer

overexpression

the excess production of growth factor receptors (cell-surface receptors) that results from alteration of a gene in cancer cells

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paclitaxel

included a class of chemotherapy drugs (taxanes) that prevents cancer cell division and growth and promotes cancer cell death

pathologist

a doctor who studies and examines tissue samples for signs of cancer or other abnormalities

pathology lab

the location, or laboratory, where pathologists work

pathology report

a report that describes tissue removed from the body to help understand the nature of a disease

potential

a potential product is one that is experimental and is not yet approved by the FDA for that specific use

progesterone receptors (PR)

a protein found inside some cancer cells. The hormone progesterone will bind to the receptors inside the cells and may cause the cells to grow.

radiation therapy

the use of high-energy rays or substance particles to kill or shrink cancer cells

recurrence

cancer that has returned after treatment

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stage

a method of describing the size and location of a cancer based upon characteristics of the tumor, the lymph nodes, and whether it has spread to other organs

stereotactic core needle biopsy

a method of needle biopsy that is useful when calcifications or a mass can be seen on mammogram but cannot be located by touch

surgery

also known as an operation, this is a procedure done to remove or repair a part of the body or to see if disease is present

systemic therapy

treatment that reaches and affects cells throughout the body (ie, chemotherapy or biologic therapy)

targeted therapy

a type of cancer treatment that targets only certain types of cell activities

thrombocytopenia

a decrease in the number of platelets in the blood, resulting in the potential for increased bleeding and decreased ability for clotting

tumor

an abnormal growth of tissue that does not have normal body function

tumor block

section of tissue biopsy preserved in wax for future study

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