Glossary of Medical Terms

A hypersensitive immune reaction to a substance that normally is harmless or would not cause an immune response in most people. An allergic response may cause harmful symptoms such as itching or inflammation or tissue injury.

Taken from different individuals of the same species. Also called allogenic.

A procedure in which a patient receives healthy stem cells (blood-forming cells) to replace their own stem cells that have been destroyed by treatment with radiation or high doses of chemotherapy. In an allogeneic bone marrow transplant, the healthy stem cells come from the bone marrow of a related donor who is not an identical twin of the patient or from an unrelated donor who is genetically similar to the patient.

A procedure in which a patient receives healthy blood-forming cells (stem cells) from a donor to replace their own stem cells that have been destroyed by treatment with radiation or high doses of chemotherapy. In an allogeneic stem cell transplant, the healthy stem cells may come from the blood or bone marrow of a related donor who is not an identical twin of the patient or from an unrelated donor who is genetically similar to the patient. An allogeneic stem cell transplant is most often used to treat blood cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma, and certain types of blood or immune system disorders.

Taken from different individuals of the same species. Also called allogeneic.

The transplant of an organ, tissue, or cells from one individual to another individual of the same species who is not an identical twin.

A system in which medical doctors and other healthcare professionals (such as nurses, pharmacists, and therapists) treat symptoms and diseases using drugs, radiation, or surgery. Also called biomedicine, conventional medicine, mainstream medicine, orthodox medicine, and Western medicine.

A drug that lowers high levels of uric acid (a byproduct of metabolism) in the blood caused by some cancer treatments.

A substance that is being studied as a gene therapy agent in the treatment of cancer. It increases the ability of the immune system to recognize cancer cells and kill them.

A substance found in certain plants, including aloe vera. It belongs to a family of compounds called anthraquinones, which have shown anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects.