Understanding Medical Terms

The chemical connection between the antibody and drug in an ADC, designed to remain stable in blood but release the drug inside cancer cells.

The cytotoxic drug component of an ADC, typically a very potent chemotherapy agent.

A chromosomal rearrangement creating an abnormal ALK gene fusion, druggable with ALK inhibitors.

A genetic abnormality where the ALK gene fuses with another gene, creating an oncogenic driver mutation found in about 3-5% of non-small cell lung cancers.

An aggressive blood cancer of myeloid lineage characterized by rapid growth of abnormal white cells in the bone marrow.

Additional treatment given after the primary treatment to lower the risk of cancer returning, typically following surgery.

A targeted therapy consisting of an antibody linked to a cytotoxic drug, delivering chemotherapy directly to cancer cells.

Preventive treatment for nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy or radiation.

An abnormal fusion gene created by a chromosomal translocation (Philadelphia chromosome), which drives chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).

A specific mutation in the BRAF gene (V600E) that drives cancer growth and is targetable with BRAF inhibitors.

Mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes that increase cancer risk and predict response to PARP inhibitors.

Avelumab, a PD-L1 inhibitor used in Merkel cell carcinoma and as first-line maintenance in advanced urothelial carcinoma.

Treatment focused on symptom management and quality of life without anti-cancer therapy, often used as a control arm in trials.

An engineered antibody that simultaneously binds to two different targets, typically a cancer cell and an immune cell.

Cancer originating in the urothelium lining the bladder, often presenting with blood in the urine.

Replacement of diseased or damaged bone marrow with healthy stem cells, used in leukemias, lymphomas, and myeloma.

The ability of an ADC's released payload to kill nearby cancer cells that don't express the target antigen.

A personalized immunotherapy where a patient's T cells are engineered to recognize and attack cancer cells.

A cell membrane protein expressed on activated T and B cells, and highly expressed in Hodgkin lymphoma and some other lymphomas.

A checkpoint inhibitor that blocks CTLA-4 protein, enhancing early T-cell activation against cancer.

Cancer of the cervix, strongly linked to persistent HPV infection, preventable through vaccination and screening.

A type of immunotherapy drug that blocks checkpoint proteins from binding with their partner proteins, allowing T-cells to kill cancer cells more effectively.

A slow-growing blood cancer of mature B lymphocytes, common in older adults.

A type of blood cancer characterized by increased production of myeloid cells in the bone marrow and accumulation in the blood.

Fragments of DNA released by cancer cells into the bloodstream, which can be detected through liquid biopsy.

Cancer that starts in the colon or rectum, often driven by genetic mutations or MSI-H/dMMR status that can respond to immunotherapy.

The use of two or more therapeutic agents together to treat cancer, often yielding better results than single-agent therapy.

A regulatory pathway allowing access to investigational drugs for patients with serious conditions lacking alternatives.

The disappearance of all signs of cancer in response to treatment, though cancer may still be present in the body.

An immune system overreaction that can occur with immunotherapy, causing symptoms like high fever, low blood pressure, and difficulty breathing.

Surgery aimed at removing as much visible tumor as possible to enhance the effectiveness of additional therapies.

Overexpression or gene amplification of the c-MET receptor tyrosine kinase, an oncogenic driver found in various cancers that can be targeted therapeutically.

Reduction or disappearance of circulating tumor DNA after treatment, indicating molecular response.

An aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma arising from B cells, representing the most common lymphoma subtype.

Percentage of patients achieving complete response, partial response, or stable disease for a specified period.

Chemotherapy given at shorter intervals without reducing dose, aiming to reduce tumor regrowth between cycles.

The average number of drug molecules conjugated to each antibody molecule in an ADC.

Time from initial response until disease progression, measuring how long treatment responses last.

A class of EGFR mutations in NSCLC that respond poorly to first- and second-generation TKIs but have dedicated targeted therapies.

A genetic change in the epidermal growth factor receptor gene, commonly found in lung cancer and targetable with specific medications.

Mutations, fusions, or amplifications in fibroblast growth factor receptor genes that drive cancer growth and can be targeted with specific inhibitors.

Cancer that forms in the lining of the stomach, also known as stomach cancer, which can affect any part of the stomach.

The most aggressive and common malignant primary brain tumor in adults, arising from glial cells and characterized by rapid growth and poor prognosis.

Use of agents like G-CSF to stimulate white blood cell production and reduce infection risk during chemotherapy.

Overexpression or gene amplification of HER2 protein, targetable with specific therapies in breast, gastric, and other cancers.

Tumors with HER2 IHC 1+ or 2+ without gene amplification, newly targetable with certain antibody-drug conjugates.

A type of cancer that tests positive for HER2 protein, which promotes the growth of cancer cells.

Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy delivered directly into the abdominal cavity after cytoreductive surgery.

Statistical measure comparing risk of events (progression or death) between treatment groups in clinical trials.

Cancers that start in the squamous cells lining the moist surfaces inside the head and neck, including the mouth, nose, and throat.

Primary liver cancer arising from hepatocytes, commonly linked to chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis.

A type of lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic system) characterized by the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells.

A mutation in the IDH1 gene producing oncometabolite 2-HG, found in cholangiocarcinoma and certain gliomas.

Durvalumab, a PD-L1 inhibitor used as consolidation therapy after chemoradiation for stage III unresectable NSCLC and in other cancer types.

Side effects caused by immunotherapy when the activated immune system attacks normal organs and tissues.

Inflammation of the colon caused by immunotherapy, presenting with diarrhea, abdominal pain, and sometimes blood in stool.

Inflammation of the lungs caused by immunotherapy, presenting with cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain.

Inflammation of the thyroid gland caused by immunotherapy, which can lead to hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.

A type of cancer treatment that helps the immune system fight cancer by using substances made by the body or in a laboratory to boost or restore immune system function.

A method of delivering medication directly into a vein over a period of time, typically 30-90 minutes.

Dostarlimab, a PD-1 inhibitor approved for dMMR/MSI-H endometrial cancer and certain solid tumors.

A specific KRAS mutation creating a druggable pocket targeted by G12C inhibitors in lung and colorectal cancer.

A mutation in the KRAS gene, one of the most common oncogenic drivers in cancers, particularly lung, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers.

Trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1), an antibody-drug conjugate targeting HER2-positive breast cancer, combining trastuzumab with the chemotherapy agent DM1.

Cemiplimab, a PD-1 inhibitor approved for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and advanced NSCLC with high PD-L1 expression.

The sequential order of treatments, with first-line being initial therapy and later lines used after progression or intolerance.

A blood test that detects circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), circulating tumor cells (CTCs), or other cancer-derived material, offering a non-invasive way to analyze cancer.

Olaparib, a PARP inhibitor for BRCA-mutated ovarian, breast, pancreatic, and prostate cancers.

A mutation causing deletion of MET exon 14, leading to MET activation and targetability with MET inhibitors.

Magnetic resonance imaging enhanced with gadolinium contrast to better visualize tumors and vascular structures.

Microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) tumors have defects in DNA repair mechanisms, making them highly responsive to immunotherapy.

Continued use of checkpoint inhibitors after initial induction to sustain response and delay progression.

Ongoing treatment given to help keep cancer in remission or prevent it from returning after initial treatment.

A type of skin cancer that develops from melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells in the skin.

Cancer that has spread from the original (primary) tumor to other parts of the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.

A genetic condition where DNA mismatch repair is defective, leading to high mutation rates and immunotherapy responsiveness.

Small numbers of cancer cells remaining after treatment, detectable with sensitive methods like flow cytometry or molecular assays.

A laboratory-made protein that acts like human antibodies in the immune system, designed to attach to specific targets on cells.

Cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow, leading to anemia, bone lesions, and kidney impairment.

A decrease in bone marrow activity leading to reduced production of blood cells, commonly caused by chemotherapy.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer - the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for about 85% of all lung cancer cases.

A rare gene fusion involving NTRK1, NTRK2, or NTRK3 genes, occurring across many cancer types and highly druggable.

Mechanism allowing a physician to request an unlicensed medicine for an individual patient when no alternatives exist.

Treatment given before the main treatment, usually surgery, to help shrink a tumor and make it easier to remove.

Percentage of patients achieving complete or partial tumor shrinkage per RECIST criteria.

A treatment using viruses that selectively infect and kill cancer cells while sparing normal cells.

A fixed-dose combination of nivolumab (PD-1) and relatlimab (LAG-3) used in advanced melanoma.

A primary bone cancer that typically affects adolescents and young adults, often in long bones.

Cancer that begins in the ovaries, the female reproductive organs that produce eggs, most commonly epithelial ovarian cancer.

Time from treatment start until death from any cause, considered the gold standard clinical trial endpoint.

A type of checkpoint inhibitor that blocks the PD-1 protein on T cells, helping the immune system attack cancer cells.

The level of PD-L1 protein on tumor or immune cells, used to predict response to checkpoint inhibitors.

A checkpoint inhibitor that blocks the PD-L1 protein on tumor cells, allowing T cells to recognize and attack cancer.

Tumor Proportion Score measuring PD-L1 expression on tumor cells, used to select patients for immunotherapy.

Combined positron emission tomography and computed tomography providing metabolic and anatomic imaging for cancer staging and response assessment.

A mutation in the PIK3CA gene that activates the PI3K pathway, driving cell growth and survival, found in 30-40% of hormone receptor-positive breast cancers.

Enfortumab vedotin, an antibody-drug conjugate targeting Nectin-4 for advanced urothelial carcinoma.

A malignant tumor that originates in the pancreas, typically pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), representing one of the most challenging cancers to treat.

Standardized measure of a patient's functional ability and daily activity level, used to determine treatment eligibility.

Time from treatment start until disease progression or death, a key clinical trial endpoint.

A common male cancer arising in the prostate gland, often slow growing but potentially aggressive when metastatic or castration-resistant.

A chromosomal rearrangement involving the RET gene, targetable with selective RET inhibitors.

A chromosomal rearrangement involving the ROS1 gene, targetable with ROS1 inhibitors in lung cancer.

The most common type of kidney cancer in adults, originating from the lining of the kidney tubules.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy delivering high-dose, highly precise radiation over a few sessions to small targets.

Treatment given after initial therapy has failed or cancer has returned, aimed at achieving remission or controlling disease.

An aggressive type of lung cancer that starts in the nerve cells or hormone-producing cells of the lung, accounting for about 10-15% of all lung cancer cases.

A type of cancer that begins in squamous cells, which are thin, flat cells found in tissues that form the surface of the skin and line body cavities.

A highly precise radiation treatment delivering large doses of radiation to small, well-defined tumors in a single or few sessions, commonly used for brain metastases.

Tumor mutational burden of ≥10 mutations/megabase, associated with better response to checkpoint inhibitors and an FDA tissue-agnostic indication.

Osimertinib, a third-generation EGFR TKI effective against sensitizing and T790M resistance mutations in NSCLC.

Atezolizumab, a PD-L1 inhibitor checkpoint immunotherapy drug used to treat various cancers including lung, breast, and urothelial cancers.

The schedule of when a treatment is given, including the treatment period and rest period.

An aggressive breast cancer subtype that tests negative for estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and HER2 protein, representing about 10-15% of all breast cancers.

Sacituzumab govitecan, an antibody-drug conjugate targeting Trop-2, used in metastatic triple-negative and HR+/HER2- breast cancer.

A personalized cell therapy extracting immune cells from a patient's tumor, expanding them in the lab, and reinfusing them to fight cancer, particularly effective in melanoma.

A measure of the number of mutations present in a tumor's DNA, which can predict response to immunotherapy.

A type of targeted therapy that blocks enzymes called tyrosine kinases, which help send growth signals in cells.

Cancer that begins in the urothelial cells lining the bladder, ureters, or renal pelvis.

Active monitoring without immediate treatment, used when intervention risks outweigh benefits in indolent disease.

Ipilimumab, a CTLA-4 inhibitor immunotherapy drug that enhances T-cell activation, often used in combination with PD-1 inhibitors for melanoma and other cancers.

Niraparib, a PARP inhibitor used as maintenance therapy in ovarian cancer regardless of BRCA status.