Glossary A
A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z
3 dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT): an external radiation treatment approach that focuses on directing the radiation energy to the tumor target while sparing the surrounding normal tissues; see conformal
5-alpha-dihydrotestosterone: usually known as dihydrotestosterone or DHT
5-alpha reductase (5AR): enzymes that convert testosterone to dihydrotestosterone
5-alpha reductase inhibitor: A drug used to block the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. Examples: finasteride (Proscar®) and dutasteride (Avodart®).
5-FU: 5-Fluorouracil; (Adrucil®); a drug in the group of cancer-fighting medicines known as antineoplastics, which interferes with the growth of cancer cells. It is approved for palliative management of colon, rectum, breast, stomach and pancreatic cancer
17,20 lyase: an enzyme important in the adrenal androgen pathways that converts 17 alpha hydroxyprogesterone to androstenedione and also converts 17 alpha hydroxypregneneolone to DHEA
a1-antichymotrypsin (ACT): one of the many serine protease inhibitors or serpins (short for serine protease inhibitor) which are proteins that inhibit peptidases (old name: proteases). Serine proteases are defined by the presence of a serine (an amino acid) residue in their active domain.
AAT: androgen ablation therapy; preferred terms might be androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) or hormone therapy.
AAWR: antiandrogen withdrawal response; a decrease in PSA seen upon stopping an antiandrogen such as Flutamide® or Casodex®; it is believed that this occurs because the antiandrogen has induced a mutation in the androgen receptor (AR) which is allowing the antiandrogen to stimulate PC growth rather than inhibit it
abdomen adj. abdominal: the part of the body below the ribs and above the pelvic bone that contains organs like the intestines, the liver, the kidneys, the stomach, the bladder, and the prostate
ablation: relating to the removal or destruction of tissue or a system; androgen ablation refers to blocking the effects of androgens by surgical or chemical means
abscopal effect: In cancer treatment, an abscopal effect occurs when a particular treatment has an impact on a tumor that was not treated – “ab-” being the Latin prefix for “away from”, and “scopus” the word for “target”. See our paper.
acinus: pl. ACINI: any of the small saclike structures that terminate the ducts of some glands, also called alveolus; ACINAR: of, relating to or comprising an acinus
acronym: an abbreviation formed from the initial letters of a name; e.g. see ARM
ACTH: adrenal corticotrophic hormone; a pituitary hormone that stimulates the outer portion of the adrenal glands to secrete various hormones including cortisol, DHEA and androstenedione
active objectified surveillance: active observation and regular monitoring of a patient without actual treatment ; also called watchful waiting
acute: beginning quickly and sharp or severe
acute urinary retention: the sudden inability to urinate, causing pain and discomfort. Causes can be related to an obstruction in the urinary system, stress, neurologic problems, or certain medications.
adenocarcinoma: a form of cancer that develops from a malignant abnormality in the cells lining a glandular organ such as the prostate; almost all prostate cancers are adenocarcinomas
adenoma: a benign tumor of a glandular structure
adenovirus: a (20 sided) virus that contains DNA; there are over 40 different adenovirus varieties, some of which cause the common cold. Modified versions have shown some ability to cause apoptosis in laboratory testing
adhesion: a band of scar tissue abnormally joining two surfaces
adipose: tissue made of fat cells
adjuvant: an additional treatment used to increase the effectiveness of the primary therapy; radiation therapy is often used as an adjuvant treatment after a radical prostatectomy if the surgical margins are involved by PC
ADPC (androgen-dependent PC): PC cells that depend on androgens for continued cell growth and vitality
adrenal androgen (AA): a male hormone produced by the adrenal glands; actually, the adrenal makes AA precursors such as DHEA and androstenedione that are metabolized to androgens within the prostate.
adrenal cortex: the outer portion of the adrenal gland; it secretes various hormones.
adrenal glands: the two adrenal glands are located above the kidneys; they produce a variety of different hormones, including cortisol, adrenal androgens and hormones important in blood pressure control and electrolyte balance
adrenalectomy: the surgical removal of one or both adrenal glands
Adriamycin® (doxorubicin): a genotoxic drug, a chemotherapy agent that affects DNA and alters its function
ADS (androgen deprivation syndrome): a number of side effects associated with low levels of androgen associated with ADT – See PCRI Paper on ADS.
ADT: see androgen deprivation therapy
adverse reaction: a harmful or unexpected effect of a medication or treatment
aerobic: in biochemistry, reactions that need oxygen to happen or happen when oxygen is present
AG: aminogluthethimide; a drug that blocks the production of adrenal hormones such as DHEA, androstenedione and also cortisol
age-adjusted: modified to take account of the age of an individual or group of individuals; for example, it has been suggested that normal PSA values can be adjusted according to age groupings of men:
Age PSA "cutoff"
40-49 up to 2.5 ng/ml
50-59 up to 3.5
60-69 up to 4.5
70-79 up to 6.5
agonist: A drug or other chemical that can combine with a receptor on a cell to produce a physiologic reaction typical of a naturally occurring substance
AIPC (androgen-independent PC): PC cells that do not depend on androgen for growth
Akt: a protein kinase which is one of the key enzymes for regulating anti-apoptotic events
albumin: A class of simple, water-soluble proteins that can be coagulated by heat and precipitated by strong acids and are found in egg white, blood serum, milk, and many other animal and plant juices and tissues
alendronate sodium : a drug that affects bone metabolism used in treating osteoporosis and being studied in the treatment of hypercalcemia (abnormally high levels of calcium in the blood) and in treating and reducing the risk of bone pain caused by cancer; active ingredient in Fosamax®
algorithm: procedure or formula for solving a problem.
alkaline phosphatase (ALP): an enzyme in blood, bone, kidney, spleen, and lungs; used to monitor bone or liver metastasis when elevated
alk phos: alkaline phosphatase
allopathy, allopathic: a system of medical practice that aims to combat disease by use of standard remedies such as drugs or surgery
alpha-blockers: pharmaceuticals that act on the prostate by relaxing certain types of muscle tissue; these pharmaceuticals are often used in the treatment of BPH; examples are Flomax®, Cardura® and Hytrin®
alpha receptors: a cell site that responds to adrenaline (epinephrine) or adrenaline-like substances, causing various physiological changes related to blood vessels getting smaller
alprostadil: a prostaglandin that relaxes the smooth muscles of the penis, enhancing blood flow, and producing erection; first produced as Caverject®, an injectable Prostaglandin E1
amino acid: a class of organic compounds that are the building blocks of peptides and proteins
aminoglutethimide (Cytadren®): an aromatase inhibitor that blocks the production of adrenal steroids. It also blocks the conversion of androgens to estrogens
amplicon: the DNA product of a PCR reaction, usually an amplified segment of a gene or DNA
anaerobic: an organism, such as a bacterium, that can live in the absence of atmospheric oxygen
analgesia: pain relief without loss of consciousness
analgesic: a drug that alleviates pain without causing loss of consciousness
analog: a synthetic chemical or pharmaceutical that behaves like a normal chemical in the body, e.g., LHRH analogs such as Lupron® or Zoladex®
Anandron®: trade or brand name for nilutamide, an antiandrogen; in the USA this is called Nilandron®.
anastomosis: (pl. anastomoses) – the connection of separate parts of a branching system to form a network, as of blood vessels; also the surgical connection of separate or severed tubular hollow organs to form a continuous channel, as the severed urethra in radical prostatectomy.
anastrozole (Arimidex®): an aromatase inhibitor that reduces the level of estrogen in the body
Androcur®: trade name for cyproterone, an antiandrogen with progestational activity; also called CPA for cyproterone acetate (not available in U.S.)
androgen: a hormone which is responsible for male characteristics and the development and function of male sexual organs (e.g., testosterone) produced mainly by the testicles but also in the cortex of the adrenal glands; androgens have far reaching effects on blood formation, muscle and bone mass, cognitive function, emotional lability, skin and hair, etc
androgen dependent PC (ADPC): PC cells that depend on androgens for continued cell growth and vitality
androgen deprivation syndrome (ADS): a number of side effects associated with elimination or blockage of androgens from ADT; see PCRI paper on ADS.
androgen deprivation therapy (ADT): (also called hormone therapy) or testosterone inactivating pharmaceuticals (TIP)) a prostate cancer treatment that eliminates or blocks androgens to the PC cell; includes diverse mechanisms such as surgical or chemical castration, antiandrogens, 5 AR inhibitors, estrogenic compounds, agents that interfere with adrenal androgen production, agents that decrease sensitivity of the androgen receptor (AR)
androgen independent prostate cancer (AIPC): PC cells that do not depend on androgen for growth
androgen receptor (AR): A structural entity that is the site of interaction of a chemical substance called a ligand as is a lock and key; a docking site for a ligand
androgen receptor mutation (ARM): a mutation in the gene located on the androgen receptor that allows the antiandrogen to stimulate PC growth rather than block growth; a paradoxical effect usually occurring in about 30% of patients on long-term antiandrogen therapy in the setting of a rising PSA with a castrate testosterone level
androgen-sensitive prostate cancer: PC cells that depend on androgen for growth
androstenedione: an adrenal androgen precursor that is transformed to testosterone by 3 beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase within the prostate cell; testosterone can also be oxidized to androstenedione by 17 beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase
anemia: A disorder characterized by a decrease in hemoglobin in the blood to levels below the normal range. Symptoms include fatigue, weakness and difficulty breathing.
anesthetic, anesthesia: a drug that produces general or local loss of physical sensations, particularly pain; a “spinal” is the injection of a local anesthetic into the area surrounding the spinal cord
aneuploid: having an abnormal number of sets of chromosomes; for example, tetraploid means having two paired sets of chromosomes, which is twice as many as normal; aneuploid cancer cells tend not to respond well to androgen deprivation therapy; aneuploidy refers to the state of being aneuploid; (see also diploid)
angiogenesis: the growth of new blood vessels; a characteristic of tumors; angiogenesis is normal biologic process that occurs in both healthy and disease states; “angiogenesis factor” or “tumor angiogenesis factor” refers to a substance that tumors produce in order to grow new blood vessels
angiography: an X-ray study of the inside of the heart and/or blood vessels
antagonist: a drug that has an opposite reaction or competes for the same thing
anterior: the front; for example, the anterior of the prostate is the part of the prostate that faces forward
anterolateral: situated or occurring in front and to the side from the midpoint
antiandrogen: a compound (usually a synthetic pharmaceutical) that blocks or otherwise interferes with the normal action of androgens at cellular receptor sites
antiandrogen monotherapy (AAM): the use of an antiandrogen to block the androgen receptors of the cancer cells as a single therapy to reduce the side-effects normally associated with androgen deprivation therapy; See our paper on AAM
antiandrogen withdrawal response: see AAWR
antiangiogenesis: prevention of the growth of new blood vessels
antibiotic: a pharmaceutical that can kill certain types of bacteria
antibody: protein produced by the immune system as a defense against an invading or "foreign" material or substance (an antigen); for example, when you get a cold, your body produces antibodies to the cold virus
anticholinergic: an agent that blocks certain receptors on the nerves, lessens muscle spasms and reduces release of liquids by the stomach, mouth, sweat glands, etc.
anticoagulant: a pharmaceutical that helps to stop the blood from clotting
antiemetic: a medicine that prevents or alleviates nausea and vomiting
antiestrogen: a substance capable of preventing full expression of the biological effects of an estrogen
antigen: "foreign" material introduced into the body (a virus or bacterium, for example) or other material which the immune system considers to be "foreign" because it is not part of the body's normal biology (e.g., prostate cancer cells); a substance that elicits a cellular-level immune response or causes the formation of an antibody
antigen-presenting cell (APC): A type of cell that provokes an immune response from T-cells by binding foreign antigens to its own surface and then interacting with the T-cells. Also known as antigen-processing cell
antineoplastic: Inhibiting or preventing the development of abnormal tissue growth, checking the maturation and proliferation of malignant cells
antioxidant: a substance that inhibits oxidation or reactions promoted by oxygen or peroxides. Antioxidant nutrients protect human cells from damage caused by "free radicals" (highly reactive oxygen compounds).
anus: the opening of the rectum through which solid waste leaves the body
apex, apical: the tip or bottom of the prostate, e.g., the part of the prostate farthest away from the bladder; the top of the prostate is called the base
apoptosis: programmed cell death due to an alteration in a critical substance or chemical necessary for cell viability; the lack of male hormones causes apoptosis of androgen dependent PC
arachidonic acid: an omega-6 fatty acid that has been shown to be a stimulator of PC growth; found in egg yolk, animal red meat, organ meats; has free-radical generating properties
arcus tendinous: a thickened whitish band of the pelvic fascia
Arimidex®: the trademarked name for anastrozole
ARM (androgen receptor mutation): a mutation in the gene located on the androgen receptor that allows the antiandrogen to stimulate PC growth rather than block growth; a paradoxical effect usually occurring in about 30% of patients on long-term antiandrogen therapy in the setting of a rising PSA with a castrate testosterone level
aromatase: an enzyme that converts testosterone to estrogen (estradiol or estrone)
arteriosclerosis: a chronic disease characterized by abnormal thickening and hardening of the arterial walls
ASCO: American Society of Clinical Oncology
aspiration: the use of suction to remove fluid or tissue, usually through a fine needle (e.g., aspiration biopsy)
assay: a method of performing a standard test for the quality or quantity of a substance (ex: PSA). Assay results may vary depending on the methods, reagents and equipment used.
ASTRO: American Society for Therapeutic Radiation and Oncology
asymptomatic: having no recognizable symptoms of a particular disorder
ATF (amino terminal fragment): highly active part of the uPA molecule
atherosclerosis: a disorder of the arteries leading to reduced blood flow caused by the narrowing of blood vessels due to the accumulation of plaques composed up of cholesterols and fats
atrophic: undergoing atrophy or shrinkage in size and usually function
atrophy: a wasting or decrease in size of a body organ, tissue, or part owing to disease, injury, or lack of use: muscular atrophy of a person affected with paralysis. a wasting away, deterioration, or diminution: intellectual atrophy.
attentive DRE: a DRE described for PCA3 test as “applying firm digital pressure to the prostate from base to apex and from the lateral to the median line for each lobe with exactly three strokes per lobe” ( Dr. Yves Fradet – AUA 2006) See PCRI Paper PCA3: A Genetic Marker of Prostate Cancer.
atypical hyperplasia (atypia): non typical enlargement of an organ or tissue
AUA (American Urological Association): the official society of American urologists
AUA Symptom Score: an evaluation of the lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) based on questions published by the American Urological Association
autocrine: of, relating to, promoted by, or being a substance secreted by a cell and acting on surface receptors of the same cell
autologous: one's own; for example, autologous blood is a patient's own blood which is removed prior to surgery in case a patient needs a transfusion during or after surgery
auxotroph, auxotrophic: mutant that differs from the wild-type (normal) in requiring a nutritional supplement beyond the minimum required for metabolism and reproduction
avascular: with few or no blood vessels
Avodart®: dutasteride
avulse: to pull off or tear away
axial: extending in a direction essentially perpendicular to the plane of a cyclic structure
axial spin-echo T1 weighted image: an image acquired in the axial plane using a pulse-sequence that weights the signal intensity of each pixel to the T1 (the time it takes for water protons to return to thermal equilibrium) relaxation of water
azotemia: elevation in blood nitrogen level due to dehydration or kidney dysfunction; in laboratory tests this manifests as elevation in BUN and/or creatinine
