Glossary

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A

angiogenesis

The induction of the growth of blood vessels from surrounding tissue into a tumor by a diffusible protein factor released by the tumor cells.

1 Reprinted from Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 31st edition. Copyright Elsevier (2007).

apoptosis

Also called programmed cell death, it is a signaling pathway that leads to cellular suicide in an organized manner. Several factors and receptors are specific to the apoptotic pathway. The net result is that cells shrink and develop blebs on their surface, and their DNA undergoes fragmentation.

1 J Clin Oncol. 2005;23:7365-7374. Reprinted with permission from the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

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C

conformation

The particular shape of an entity. In chemistry, the spatial arrangement of atoms in a molecule produced by rotations about single bonds, the property that distinguishes different conformers (conformational isomers) from each other.

1 Reprinted from Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 31st edition. Copyright Elsevier (2007).

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D

differentiation

The act or process of acquiring completely individual characteristics, increasing morphologic or chemical heterogeneity.

1 Adapted from Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 31st edition. Copyright Elsevier (2007).

dimerization

The process through which 2 simpler molecular entities combine to form a unit, such as when 2 receptors join to form a receptor pair.

1 Adapted from Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 31st edition. Copyright Elsevier (2007).

dimers

A moiety formed by the combination of 2 simpler molecules.

1 Adapted from Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 31st edition. Copyright Elsevier (2007).

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L

ligand

A molecule that binds to another molecule; used especially to refer to a small molecule that binds specifically to a larger molecule, eg, an antigen binding to an antibody, a hormone or neurotransmitter binding to a receptor, or a substrate or allosteric effector binding to an enzyme.

1 Reprinted from Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 31st edition. Copyright Elsevier (2007).

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M

mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)

Any of a group of protein-serine/threonine kinases that when activated enter the cell nucleus and catalyze the phosphorylation of serine and threonine residues in transcription factors that regulate gene expression; it is the final member of a signal transduction cascade of 3 protein kinases that is initiated by stimulation of a wide variety of membrane receptors and is important in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation.

1 Reprinted from Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 31st edition. Copyright Elsevier (2007).

malignant

A tumor that becomes progressively worse. Characteristics include anaplasia, invasion, and metastasis.

1 Adapted from Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 31st edition. Copyright Elsevier (2007).

metastasis

The transfer of disease from one organ or part to another not directly connected with it.

1 Reprinted from Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 31st edition. Copyright Elsevier (2007).

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O

oncogenic

Giving rise to tumors (either benign or malignant) or causing tumor formation.

1 Reprinted from Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 31st edition. Copyright Elsevier (2007).

overexpression

Excessive expression of a gene by producing too much of its effect or product.

1 Reprinted from Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 31st edition. Copyright Elsevier (2007).

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P

phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)

A family of related enzymes that add a phosphate group to phosphatidylinositol 3 (PI3), which is a downstream signaling molecule involved in survival/proliferative pathways mediated by growth factors.

1 J Clin Oncol. 2005;23:5406-5415. Reprinted with permission from the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

phosphorylation

The metabolic process of introducing a phosphate group into an organic molecule.

1 Adapted from J Clin Oncol. 2005;23:5406-5415. Reprinted with permission from the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

proliferation

The reproduction or multiplication of similar forms, especially of cells and morbid cysts.

1 Reprinted from Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 31st edition. Copyright Elsevier (2007).

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T

tumorigenesis

The production of tumors. Called also oncogenesis.

1 Reprinted from Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 31st edition. Copyright Elsevier (2007).

tyrosine kinase

Generic name for an enzyme that phosphorylates tyrosine molecules in proteins.

1 J Clin Oncol. 2005;23:5406-5415. Reprinted with permission from the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

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