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Glossary of Terms

G - I

G

Gallium (radioisotope) scan: An imaging technique to detect cancer. Gallium is a chemical taken up by some cancer cells. In this procedure, a safe amount of radioactive gallium is injected into the patient, after which the patient undergoes an x-ray procedure where the radioactive gallium makes the tumour(s) visible. Gallium scans are performed in the nuclear medicine clinic in the hospital.

Gastrointestinal: Having to do with the digestive tract, which includes the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and intestines.

Generalized disease: Cancer that has spread throughout the body.

Gene: The part of DNA that is responsible for determining a person’s characteristics and that carries information from old cells to new cells.

Gene therapy: The use of genes to treat cancer and other diseases.

Genetic mutation: A permanent change to the normal sequence of a gene, usually caused by external agents such as chemicals or radiation. Genetic mutations may cause certain cancers.

Genome: The complete genetic information of a species.

Gleevec^®: The new drug Gleevec^® was approved by the FDA May 10, 2001. It has been shown to be effective in creating lasting remissions for numerous cancers, including leukemia and lymphoma.

Grade (clinical grade): NHL can be classified as low, intermediate or high grade depending on how fast the cancer is growing. The term indolent is often used to describe low-grade NHL, whereas aggressive denotes a higher grade NHL.

Graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD): A complication that can occur after a patient has received a bone marrow or stem-cell transplant from a donor (an allogeneic transplant). The immune cells from the donor (the graft) react to the patient’s body cells (the host) and mount an immune response against them.

Granulocyte: A type of white blood cell that fights bacterial infection or foreign substances. They congregate around, engulf, and destroy the offending object in a process called phagocytosis. Granulocytes then die and are ingested by monocytes. (A granulocyte is also called a neutrophil).

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF): A treatment agent used to stimulate the production of granulocytes in the bone marrow. Manufactured by AMGEN under the name Neupogen^®, it is often given during or after chemotherapy to boost the immune system.

Granulocyte/macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF): A treatment agent used to stimulate the production of macrophages, granulocytes, and eosinophils in the bone marrow. It is sometimes given to boost the immune system.

Groin: the area where the thigh meets the hip.

H

Harvesting: Aprocedure where stem cells are removed from the bone marrow or peripheral blood of a patient or donor. The harvested stem cells are transplanted to the patient following high-dose chemotherapy.

Hemophagocytic syndrome: A serious condition in which there is uncontrolled activation of certain parts of the immune system. It can occur in certain types of NHL: subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma and extranodal T-cell lymphoma of nasal type.

Hematocrit: The number of red blood cells within a sample of blood.

Hematologist: Doctors specializing in diseases of the blood. As NHL affects lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell), hematologists are often involved in the care of NHL patients.

Hematology: The study of blood, blood-producing organs, and blood disorders.

Hepatosplenomegaly: Abnormal enlargement of both the liver and spleen.

High grade: An aggressive grade of NHL denoting fast growth. NHL types that are high grade are Burkitt’s lymphoma, non-Burkitt’s, diffuse, leukemia/lymphoma, lymphoblastic and T-cell

Histiocytic lymphoma: The old Rappaport classification for the form of NHL now known as large cell lymphoma.

Hodgkin’s Lymphoma: One of the two main types of lymphoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma is distinguished from NHL by the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells. It commonly affects individuals between 15 and 35 years of age and, if caught early, has a high rate of remission.

Hospice: A program designed for caring for terminally ill patients and their families.

HLA: See human leukocyte antigen

HTLV-1 infection: HTLV stands for human T-lymphotropic virus. It is a family of viruses that infects T-cells and can make people more likely to develop a certain type of NHL: adult T-cell lymphoma. This virus is rare in North America and is more common in countries such as Japan and China.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV): The virus that causes AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome).

Human leukocyte antigens (HLA): A set of six antigens used to match a blood or bone marrow donor to a recipient. These antigens appear on white blood cells as well as cells of almost all other tissues and are analogous to red blood cell antigens (type A, B, O, etc.). By typing for HLA antigens, donors and recipients of white blood cells, platelets and organs can be matched to ensure good performance and survival of transfused and transplanted cells.

Hyperalimentation: Nutritional support given through a vein.

Hyperviscosity: Abnormal thickening of the blood.

Hypogeusia: A diminished sense of taste.

I

Immune system: The system within the body that recognizes and fights foreign cells and disease.

Immunophenotyping: Determining what kind of surface molecules are present on cells. Used by pathologists to determine the exact type of lymphoma from a tissue sample.

Immunosuppressant: A drug (such as chemotherapy) or other factor that prevents the immune system from reacting to foreign substances and fighting disease.

Immunosuppression: Suppression of the immune response as a result of drugs (chemotherapy) or radiation.

Immunotherapy: Treatments that stimulate the patient’s immune system to fight infection or disease. Also called biologic therapy.

Improvement: Tthe term used when the tumour size has decreased but is still larger than half of its original size.

Indolent lymphoma: A slow-growing form of NHL. Indolent NHL and low-grade NHL are term often used interchangeably.

Induction therapy: Cancer treatment used as the first step towards shrinking the tumour(s). If necessary, induction therapy is followed by additional therapy to treat the remaining cancer cells/tumours.

Informed consent: Legally required procedure to ensure that a patient knows about the potential risks and benefits of a treatment before it is started.

Infusion: Administration of fluids or medications into the blood through the veins.

Inguinal: The pubic/groin region.

Injection: Use of a syringe and needle to deliver medications to the body (also called a “shot”).

Interferon: A natural substance produced by the body in response to a virus. Interferons can stimulate the immune system to fight the growth of cancer.

Interleukin: A natural hormone-like substance produced by the body that activates the growth of certain types of lymphocytes.

Intermediate grade: A grade of NHL denoting usually moderate growth. NHL types that are intermediate grade are large cell follicular, mixed cell diffuse, large cell diffuse and immunoblastic diffuse. NCI is now classifying lymphomas as indolent or aggressive. Often considered an aggressive form of NHL that usually requires prompt treatment.

Intra-arterial (IA): Into an artery.

Intralesional (IL): Into the cancerous area in the skin.

Intramuscular (IM): Into the muscle.

Intrathecal (IT): Into the spinal fluid.

Intravenous (IV): Within, or administered into, a vein.

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