Glossary of Medical Terms

A drug used to prevent graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after organ transplants. It is also being studied in the prevention of GVHD after stem cell transplants for cancer, and in the treatment of some autoimmune disorders. CellCept is a type of immunosuppressive agent. Also called mycophenolate mofetil.

The close adherence (bonding) to adjoining cell surfaces.

A type of immunotherapy in which T cells (a type of immune cell) are given to a patient to help the body fight diseases, such as cancer. In cancer therapy, T cells are usually taken from the patient's own blood or tumor tissue, grown in large numbers in the laboratory, and then given back to the patient to help the immune system fight the cancer. Sometimes, the T cells are changed in the laboratory to make them better able to target the patient's cancer cells and kill them. Types of cellular adoptive immunotherapy include chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T-cell) therapy and tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy. Cellular adoptive immunotherapy that uses T cells from a donor is being studied in the treatment of some types of cancer and some infections. Also called adoptive cell therapy, adoptive cell transfer, and T-cell transfer therapy.

The sum of all chemical changes that take place in a cell through which energy and basic components are provided for essential processes, including the synthesis of new molecules and the breakdown and removal of others.

An acute, spreading infection of the deep tissues of the skin and muscle that causes the skin to become warm and tender and may also cause fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, and blisters.

A building block of plant cells and fiber. Cellulose cannot be digested by people, and is used to add bulk to the diet.

An abbreviation for a chemotherapy combination used to treat high-risk neuroblastoma. It includes the drugs carboplatin, etoposide, and melphalan. Also called CEM regimen.

An abbreviation for a chemotherapy combination used to treat high-risk neuroblastoma. It includes the drugs carboplatin, etoposide, and melphalan. Also called CEM.

A drug used to treat cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma that is locally advanced or has spread to other parts of the body. It is used in patients whose cancer cannot be cured by radiation therapy or surgery. It is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Cemiplimab binds to a protein called PD-1, which is found on T cells (a type of white blood cell). Cemiplimab may block PD-1 and help the immune system kill cancer cells. It is a type of monoclonal antibody and a type of immune checkpoint inhibitor. Also called Libtayo.

A U.S. federal government agency whose mission is to protect public health by preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention promotes healthy behaviors and safe, healthy environments. It keeps track of health trends, tries to find the cause of health problems and outbreaks of disease, and responds to new public health threats. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention works with state health departments and other organizations throughout the country and the world to help prevent and control disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is part of the U.S. Public Health Service of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Also called CDC.