Glossary of Medical Terms

An anticancer drug that is a type of angiogenesis inhibitor.

A substance being studied in the treatment of cancer. Also called difluoromethylornithine.

In cancer, the length of time after primary treatment for a cancer ends that the patient survives without any signs or symptoms of that cancer. In a clinical trial, measuring the DFS is one way to see how well a new treatment works. Also called disease-free survival, relapse-free survival, and RFS.

A combination of DHA (a natural fatty acid) and paclitaxel (an anticancer drug) being studied in the treatment of cancer. It is a type of mitotic inhibitor.

A substance being studied in the prevention of cancer. It is a type of steroid. Also called dehydroepiandrosterone.

A substance that can build up in cancer cells and block them from using folate. Folate is a nutrient that rapidly dividing cells need to make DNA. Blocking folate use helps keep cancer cells from growing and may kill them. Some DHFR inhibitors are used to treat cancer. A DHFR inhibitor is a type of antifolate. Also called dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor.

The U.S. federal government agency responsible for protecting the public’s health and providing important services, especially for people in need. The DHHS works with state and local governments throughout the country to do research and provide public health services, food and drug safety programs, health insurance programs, and many other services. There are several federal agencies that are a part of the DHHS. They include the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMMS). Also called Department of Health and Human Services.

A rare, aggressive (fast-growing) type of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma caused by changes in the DNA that affect a gene called the MYC gene and either the BCL2 gene or the BCL6 gene. DHL may be hard to treat and has a poor prognosis. It is a type of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Also called double-hit lymphoma.

A childhood condition in which abnormal tissue grows on the outer part of one or both kidneys. DHPLN usually develops into Wilms tumor (a type of childhood kidney cancer) if not treated. Also called diffuse hyperplastic perilobar nephroblastomatosis.

A hormone made from testosterone in the prostate, testes, and certain other tissues. It is needed to develop and maintain male sex characteristics, such as facial hair, deep voice, and muscle growth. High amounts of DHT may increase the growth of prostate cancer and make it harder to treat. Also called androstanolone and dihydrotestosterone.