Glossary N
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
N0, N1, Nx: notation of lymph nodes metastasis, see staging
nanotechnology: the control of matter on an atomic and molecular scale
naturopathy: treatment of disease using natural agents and physical manipulation; avoids drugs and surgery
nausea: An unpleasant sensation in the abdomen often leading to vomiting.
NCI: National Cancer Institute
necrosis, adj. necrotic: death of cells or tissues through injury or disease
negative: the term used to describe a test result which does not show the presence of the substance or material for which the test was carried out; for example, a negative bone scan would show no sign of bone metastases
negative predictive value: refers to the chance that a negative test result will be correct.
neoadjuvant: The use of a different kind of therapy before the use of what is considered a more definitive therapy, e.g. the use of neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) prior to radiation therapy of PC or the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery for breast cancer. Neoadjuvant is contrasted to adjuvant, which relates to the use of another therapy after the so-called more definitive therapy, e.g. ADT after RT
neoadjuvant hormone blockade (NHB): use of ADT prior to other therapies such as radiation therapy, surgery or possibly chemotherapy to reduce tumor volume and/or prostate gland volume with the goal to allow these other therapies to work better; also called NHT (Neoadjuvant Hormone Therapy)
neoplasia: the growth of cells under conditions that would tend to prevent the development of normal tissue (e.g., a cancer)
neoplasm, adj. neoplastic: new and abnormal growth of tissue, which may be a benign or cancerous tumor
nephrostomy: establishment of an opening for a catheter from the kidney to the exterior of the body.
nerve radicles: small nerve roots that are seen microscopically within specific tissue, like the prostate
nerve sparing: term used to describe a type of prostatectomy in which the surgeon saves the nerves that affect sexual and related functions
Neumega® (oprelvekin): a medication which helps the body produce more platelets in the blood
neural: relating to a nerve or the nervous system
neuroendocrine: pertaining to the relationships between the nervous and the endocrine systems
neurogenic: originating in the nervous system; compare to psychogenic
neurohormone: any of a group of substances produced by specialized cells (neurosecretory cells) structurally typical of the nervous (rather than of the endocrine) system, but that serve as a link between the two systems
neurologic: meaning it pertains to the nervous system, e.g., a neurologic problem
neurons: nerve cells which make up the central nervous system
neuropathy, adj. neuropathic: a disease or an abnormality of the nervous system
neurotoxicity: toxicity to nervous tissue (both brain and peripheral nerves)
neurotransmitter: a chemical that acts as messenger between cells in the brain and nervous system; it transmits impulses across the gap from a neuron to another neuron, a muscle, or a gland.
neurovascular: to both the neurologic and vascular systems or structures
neurovascular bundles: two bundles of nerves between the prostate and the rectum that control erection
neutropenia, neutropenic: a deficiency of neutrophils. A person is considered neutropenic when their white blood cell count drops below 1000.
neutrophil: the principal phagocyte (microbe-eating) cell in the blood. This blood cell is the main cell that combats infections. Often, it is not present in sufficient quantities in patients with acute leukemia or after chemotherapy. A severe deficiency of neutrophils increases the patient's susceptibility to infection.
NHB, NHT: see neoadjuvant hormone blockade (hormone therapy)
NIH: National Institutes of Health
nilutamide (Nilandron®): a non-steroidal antiandrogen
Nizoral®: The brand name of ketoconazole; a medication that blocks testicular and adrenal androgen production while having a direct cytotoxic effect on the PC cell; Nizoral® also is synergistic with certain chemotherapy agents and inhibits the development of the MDR gene; See our paper High Dose Ketoconazole Plus Hydrocortisone (HDK+ HC)
nocturia: the act of needing to getting up at night to urinate. This is usually scored as nocturia x number of times on average patient awakens to urinate. Nocturia x 3, for example, means getting up at night 3 times
nodule: A growth or lump that may be cancerous or noncancerous.
nomogram: A chart representing numerical relationships
noncoding: In genetics, noncoding DNA describes DNA which does not contain instructions for making proteins (or other cell products such as RNAs)
noninvasive: not requiring any incision or the insertion of an instrument or substance into the body
norepinephrine: an adrenal hormone that increases blood pressure by narrowing blood vessals
NSE: neuron-specific enolase; a neuroendocrine marker (see CGA)
N-telopeptides (Ntx): a bone resorption marker
nuclear medicine: branch of medicine dealing with the use of radioactive materials in the diagnosis and treatment of disease
nucleated: formed into a nucleus
nucleic acid: a chemical compound involved in making and storing energy and carrying hereditary characteristics, such as DNA
nucleolus: pl. nucleoli: any of the small, dense cell structures made up mostly of RNA (ribonucleic acid)
nucleosomes: the repeating structural units of chromatin, each consisting of approximately 200 base pairs of DNA around a protein core composed of the histones
nucleus: the main controlling body of a living cell
nutraceutical (or nutriceutical): a food or dietary supplement thought to provide a beneficial health effect
