Glossary of Medical Terms

An abbreviation for a chemotherapy combination used to treat certain types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It includes the drugs rituximab, etoposide phosphate, prednisone, vincristine sulfate (Oncovin), cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin hydrochloride (hydroxydaunorubicin). Also called EPOCH-R, R-EPOCH, and R-EPOCH regimen.

A drug used to treat anemia caused by chronic kidney disease, some types of chemotherapy, and an antiviral drug for HIV infection called zidovudine. It is also used to lower the number of donor blood transfusions needed during and after certain types of surgery. Epoetin alfa is a form of erythropoietin (a substance naturally made by the kidneys) that is made in the laboratory. It helps the bone marrow make more red blood cells. Epoetin alfa is a type of antianemic and a type of erythropoiesis-stimulating agent. Also called Epogen, Procrit, and Retacrit.

A substance that is made in the laboratory and stimulates the bone marrow to make red blood cells. It is a type of antianemic and a type of recombinant human erythropoietin.

A drug used to treat anemia caused by chronic kidney disease, some types of chemotherapy, and an antiviral drug for HIV infection called zidovudine. It is also used to lower the number of donor blood transfusions needed during and after certain types of surgery. Epogen is a form of erythropoietin (a substance naturally made by the kidneys) that is made in the laboratory. It helps the bone marrow make more red blood cells. Epogen is a type of antianemic and a type of erythropoiesis-stimulating agent. Also called epoetin alfa, Procrit, and Retacrit.

A substance obtained from bacteria that interferes with cell division. Some epothilones are being studied as treatments for cancer.

A substance being studied in the treatment of cancer. It is a type of epothilone. Also called EPO906.

A substance being studied in the treatment of cancer. It is a type of mitotic inhibitor and epothilone. Also called KOS-862.

A form of the substance epothilone that is made in the laboratory. It is being studied in the treatment of some types of cancer. Epothilone ZK2219477 stops the growth of tumor cells by blocking cell division. It is a type of antimitotic agent.

A substance being studied in the treatment of certain types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). It is also being studied in the treatment of an autoimmune disease called systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Epratuzumab binds to a protein called CD22, which is found on B cells (a type of white blood cell) and some types of cancer cells. This may help suppress the body’s immune response and it may help kill cancer cells. Epratuzumab is a type of monoclonal antibody.

A common virus that remains dormant in most people. It causes infectious mononucleosis and has been associated with certain cancers, including Burkitt lymphoma, immunoblastic lymphoma, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Also called EBV.