| ALL |
Acute lymphocytic leukemia (acute lymphoblastic leukemia) |
| Allogeneic transplant |
A blood or marrow transplant in which the stem cell donor is another person |
| Alopecia |
Loss of hair |
| AML |
Acute myelogenous leukemia (acute myeloblastic leukemia) |
| Anemia |
Decreased red blood cell levels |
| ANC |
Absolute neutrophil count. The percentage of white blood cells (WBCs) available to fight infection |
| Antibiotic |
A drug used to fight bacterial infections |
| Antibody |
A protein produced by the body, in response to a foreign substance, that fights the invading organism |
| Antiemetic |
A drug used to control or prevent nausea and vomiting |
| Antigen |
A substance that evokes a response from the body’s immune system resulting in the production of antibodies or other defensive action by white blood cells |
| Apheresis |
The procedure in which blood is withdrawn from a person and separated into components, some of which is collected separately and the remainder is returned to the person. |
| Ascites |
Accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity due to liver toxicity |
| Aspergillus |
A type of mold that can cause serious infections after blood or marrow transplant |
| Aspirate |
To remove by suction, as in a bone marrow aspirate |
| Autologous transplant |
A blood or marrow transplant in which the patient’s own stem cells, rather than stem cells from a donor, are infused during transplant |
| Bacteria |
Microscopic organisms that infect humans, multiply rapidly, and produce toxins that interfere with normal cell function |
| Bactrim |
An antibiotic commonly used to prevent Pneumocystis carinii infection in highly immunosuppressed patients |
| Bilirubin |
A pigment produced when the liver detoxifies waste products. Liver problems can result in a high bilirubin level causing yellowing of the skin, called jaundice |
| Blood typing and cross-matching |
Blood cells contain factors which are not the same in all people. Before being given a transfusion, blood samples from the donor and the patient are typed or classified (type A, B, AB, O) to match them. Once typed, the samples are cross-matched to double-check that they are compatible |
| BMT |
Originally, an abbreviation for "bone marrow transplantation," now refers to "blood and marrow transplantation" |
| Bone marrow (BM) |
Spongy tissue in the cavities of large bones, where the body’s blood and immune cells are produced |
| Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy |
Procedure used to remove a sample of bone marrow, usually from the rear hip bone, for examination under the microscope |
| Bone marrow harvest |
Collection of marrow stem cells through multiple bone marrow aspirations. Cells are withdrawn at the back of the hip bone in the operating room under general anesthesia |
| Candida |
A type of yeast, common to the intestine, that can cause infection in immune-compromised patients |
| CBC |
Complete blood count. Determines whether the proper number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are present in the blood |
| CD 34 positive count |
A test used to identify stem cells |
| Chemotherapy |
A course of treatment that uses drugs to destroy abnormal cells or slow their growth; more specifically, the drugs used in cancer treatment |
| CGL |
Chronic granulocytic leukemia, also called CML (chronic myelogenous leukemia) |
| Clinical Trial |
An investigation of the effects of materials or methods according to a formal study plan for a particular disease |
| CLL |
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia |
| CML |
Chronic myelogenous leukemia (chronic granulocytic leukemia – CGL) |
| Colony stimulating factors |
Proteins that stimulate the production and growth of certain types of blood cells. For exampleG-CSF (Neupogen) and GM-CSF (Leukine) |
|
Conditioning
|
The chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy given to the patient before transplant with the intent of killing cancer cells and preparing the bone marrow to receive the transplant |
| Cryopreservation |
The process of freezing and preserving a collection of stem cells |
| Culture |
Samples of body fluids or tissue that are then allowed to grow in the lab to determine if an infection is present, and if so, the type of organism responsible |
| Central venous catheter (CVC) |
Small, flexible plastic tube inserted into a large vein above the heart, through which drugs and blood products can be given and blood samples withdrawn painlessly (also called central line; types – HICKMAN® catheter, GROSHONG® catheter, Neostar) |
| Cytomegalovirus |
A virus that lies dormant and may cause infections after transplant. Patients who have been exposed to and still carry the virus are said to be CMV-positive |
| DMSO |
A chemical used to preserve stem cells and prepare them for freezing |
| Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) |
A test that measures the electrical impulses from the heart |
| Echocardiogram (Echo) |
A test that measures the function of the heart, similar to a MUGA scan |
| Electrolytes (Lytes) |
Electrically charged particles in the bloodstream. The correct level of each electrolyte is important for the overall functioning of the body. Examples are sodium, potassium, magnesium |
| Erythrocyte |
Another name for a red blood cell |
| Engraftment |
The time when transplanted stem cells or bone marrow begins to function and produce cells as measured by blood counts |
| Febrile |
Having a fever, body temperature that is higher than what is considered standard or "normal" |
| G-CSF |
A protein that stimulates the growth and maturation of granuloctyes (also known as Neupogen) |
| GM-CSF |
A protein that stimulates the growth and maturation of a wide variety of white blood cells (also known as Leukine) |
| Graft failure |
When the patient’s bone marrow does not grow after blood or marrow transplant or begins to grow but then stops |
| Growth Factor |
See Colony Stimulating Factors |
| HEPA filters |
An air filtration system used to remove particulates and fungi from the air |
| Herpes simplex virus (HSV) |
The virus that causes cold sores and genital herpes and causes infection after transplant |
| High-dose chemotherapy/therapy |
See conditioning |
| Immune system |
The body’s defense mechanism against infection and foreign particles |
| Immuno-suppression |
A condition in which the patient’s immune system functions at a lower than normal level, also called immunocompromised |
| Irradiated blood cells |
Blood cell transfusions that have been radiated at low levels to destroy white blood cells that could cause immune problems |
| Leukine |
See GM-CSF |
| Metastatic |
Spread of a disease from the organ or tissue in which it began to another part of the body |
| Mucositis |
Irritation and/or sores in the mouth and esophagus caused by chemotherapy and/or radiation |
| MUGA scan |
A test that measures the function of the heart, similar to an echocardiogram |
| Neupogen |
See G-CSF |
| Neutropenia |
Inadequate number of neutrophils defined as an ANC of less than 500. During neutropenia, the immune system is inadequate to defend itself against infection |
| Neutrophils |
A type of white blood cell, the body’s primary defense against harmful bacteria |
| Packed red blood cells (PRBC) |
A transfusion of red blood cells that may be given when the patient's red blood cell count is low |
| Pancytopenia |
An inadequate amount of all types of blood cells |
| PCA (patient controlled analgesia) |
A pump that allows the patient to self-administer doses of intravenous pain medications |
| Peripheral blood stem cells |
The "parent" cells from which all other cells in the blood develop |
| Peripheral blood stem cell transplant |
A procedure in which the patient’s own peripheral blood stem cells are removed, stored and returned to the patient after high-dose chemotherapy to restore bone marrow function. Also called peripheral blood stem cell rescue or support |
| Platelets (PLTS) |
Small cells in the blood that help blood to clot to prevent bleeding |
| Pneumocystis |
A type of lung infection that can occur during the first year after transplant |
| Preparative regimen |
see Conditioning |
| Protocol |
A standardized treatment plan |
| Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) |
A non-invasive breathing test to determine how well the lungs work |
| Randomization |
The random assignment of a patient to a certain treatment in order to compare it to another, like flipping a coin |
| Red blood cells (RBCs) |
Blood cells that transport oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body |
| Refractory |
A condition in which cancer does not respond to treatment |
| Relapse |
Return of disease after treatment |
| Remission |
A condition in which no cancerous cells can be detected |
| Sepsis |
The presence of infectious organisms in the blood |
| Staging |
Methods used to determine the extent of a patient’s disease |
| Stem cell |
"Mother" or "primitive" blood cell from which all other blood cells originate |
| SWOG (Southwest Oncology Group) |
One of the largest oncology research cooperative groups in the United States focusing on clinical research in the prevention and cure of cancer in adults. |
| Syngeneic transplant |
A blood or marrow transplant in which the stem cell donor is the patient's identical twin |
| TBI |
Total body irradiation |
| Thrombocytopenia |
Decreased platelet counts |
| tPA |
A medication used to dissolve clots in a central venous catheter |
| TPN (total parenteral nutrition) |
Fluid infused into a central venous catheter to provide calories, vitamins, and minerals that would normally be received from food (also called hyperalimentation) |
| Transfusion |
An infusion of blood products, usually red blood cells or platelets, to support the body while waiting for stem cells to grow |
| Urokinase |
A medication used to dissolve clots in a central venous catheter |
| Varicella-zoster |
The virus that causes chicken pox (varicella) or shingles (zoster). It may reactivate after transplant and cause infection |
| Veno-occlusive disease (VOD) |
A disease that sometimes occurs after high-dose chemotherapy and/or radiation. Small blood vessels in the liver become swollen and clogged. The patient may develop an enlarged, painful liver, increased bilirubin, and ascites |
| Virus |
Very small organisms that cause infection by invading other cells |
|
White blood cells(WBCs)
|
Blood cells that help the body fight infection
|
