Liver Disease and Cancer Glossary

A

American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
Used to evaluate abdominal trauma, the abdominal computerized axial tomography scan can show internal bleeding and organ injuries, lesions, and tumors. The machine holds a rotating X-ray tube and X-ray receptors, and the patient is required to ingest a small dose of barium or other contrast liquid before the procedure. An intravenous line is required for further contrast material to be introduced into the body.
A treatment that destroys liver tumors without removing them. These techniques can be used in patients with a few small tumors and when surgery is not a good option (often because of poor health or reduced liver function).
Not normal. Describes a state, condition, or behavior that is unusual or different from what is considered normal. In medicine, an abnormal lesion or growth in or on the body may be benign (not cancer), precancerous or premalignant (likely to become cancer), or malignant (cancer). Also called atypical.
is a non-opioid analgesic and antipyretic agent used to treat pain and fever.
Symptoms or signs that begin and worsen quickly; not chronic.
When pertaining to liver cancer, these tumors usually arise in the glands of the liver. Breast cancer is a well-known adenocarcinoma.
See Doxorubicin Hydrochloride.
A fungal toxin produced by mold that is a powerful liver carcinogen and may possibly lead to liver cancer.
See Alpha-fetoprotein.
A liver enzyme that is usually present in liver and heart cells and plays a distinct role in protein metabolism. Alanine aminotransferase is released into blood when the liver or heart is damaged, and an elevated serum level is a sign of liver or heart damage. Medications can also raise alanine aminotransferase levels.
A significant protein in the serum that transports substances, such as drugs, and prevents fluid leakage into the surrounding tissues.
A plasma protein produced by the liver that inhibits the activity of trypsin and other proteolytic enzymes. Its inherited deficiency leads to emphysema and sometimes cirrhosis.
ALP is an enzyme found throughout the body, but it is mostly found in the liver, bones, kidneys, and digestive system. When the liver is damaged, ALP may leak into the bloodstream. High levels of ALP can indicate liver disease or bone disorders.
Any organic compound part of the large group of nitrogenous substances that is composed of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and usually oxygen, that are found naturally in plants. Some of these plants have extracts that are considered pharmacologically active. As a medication, it is in the class of anticancer drugs that inhibit cancer cell growth by stopping cell division in mitosis. Specifically, they prevent the creation of chromosome spindles needed for the duplication of cells.
A family of cytotoxic drugs that depurinate DNA, which prevents normal cell division. Alkylating agents kill cells when they are either resting or dividing. The reagent replaces a specific group in a molecule with an alkyl group.
Alpha-fetoprotein levels in the blood typically go down after birth, and by year one, the serum is virtually undetectable. The protein can reappear in the adult during some pathological stages. The alpha-fetoprotein level in the blood can be used as early detection for some cancer forms, most prominently hepatocellular carcinoma. It is elevated in liver tumors, hepatoblastoma, hemangioendothelioma, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The level produced by liver tumors allows for the response of the treatment of the tumors to be monitored.
Tumor markers are molecules in the blood that are higher when a person has certain cancers, AFP is found mainly in liver cancern
is used instead of standard medical treatment. One example is using a special diet to treat cancer instead of cancer drugs that are prescribed by an oncologist. Less research has been done for most types of alternative medicine.
A hepatocyte enzyme that modifies proteins; blood levels increase in the setting of hepatocellular necrosis (hepatocyte death). The two aminotransferases important in liver disease are aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT).
An x-ray or computer image (CT scan or MRI) of the blood vessels and blood flow in the body. A dye may be injected through a catheter (small tube) into an artery or vein to make the blood vessels easier to see. An angiogram may be used to check for an aneurysm (a bulge in a blood vessel wall), blockages in arteries, blood clots, or other problems, such as a tumor.
A type of cancer that begins in the cells that line blood vessels or lymph vessels.
A Y-shaped immunoglobulin protein on the surface of B cells produced by the body and secreted into the blood or lymph in response to a specific antigen. They can then combine with the antigen and neutralize it.
A molecule with a configuration that is recognized by the immune system and is usually a part of a protein or sugar. They stimulate the formation of a specific antibody and trigger an immune response. Antigens can include toxins, bacteria, foreign blood cells, and the cells of transplanted organs.
Anticancer drugs that block the chemical reactions necessary for the cell to produce DNA. Antimetabolites act as normal cell nutrients and the cancer cells "consume" the drug as food and then it dies.
Anticancer drug that interferes with DNA by interweaving themselves into the DNA and either cut up the chromosomes or restrain the synthesis of RNA, preventing the cell from growing.
The accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity, usually secondary to liver scarring and increased sinusoidal pressure.
A liver enzyme that is usually present in liver and heart cells and plays a distinct role in protein metabolism. Aspartate aminotransferase is released into blood when the liver or heart is damaged, and an elevated serum level is a sign of liver or heart damage.
Having no signs or symptoms of disease.
Item description

B

Not cancer. Benign tumors may grow larger but do not spread to other parts of the body. Also called nonmalignant.
The fluid produced by the liver and emptied into the small intestine via the bile ducts. It contains bilirubin, bile salts, phospholipids, and cholesterol.
Any of the canals that take bile from the gallbladder and liver to the hepatic duct and the cystic duct, and then to the common bile duct of the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine.
A blockage in the tubes (ducts) that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder. This congenital condition occurs when the bile ducts inside or outside the liver do not develop normally. It is not known why the biliary system fails to develop normally.
A bile pigment cleared by the liver. It is formed as a product of old red blood cells. Increased bilirubin levels can lead to jaundice.
The removal of cell or tissue specimens for diagnosis and microscopic examination. The procedure can be performed via an open surgical incision or a biopsy needle. A biopsy is necessary in cancer patients before proper treatment can be determined.
Made in the bone marrow, they are either erythrocytes cells or leukocytes cells that can also include platelets.
A disorder in which veins carrying blood out of the liver become narrow and/or blocked due to blood clots.

C

A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is a cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is a cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is a cancer that begins in blood-forming tissue, such as the bone marrow, and causes too many abnormal blood cells to be made. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord. Also called malignancy.
Varicose veins around the middle of the abdomen, which can be seen in patients with cirrhosis of the liver.
Any substance that causes cancer.
A malignant growth that arises from the epithelium and is found in the lining of organs and skin. They then often metastasize.
Both chemotherapy and colloid particles are administered into the liver tumor through the hepatic artery. This procedure is usually beneficial in patients that have tumors limited to the liver. Chemoembolization can also be used to decrease the size of tumors to allow for resection.
Systematic chemotherapy is administered throughout the entire body, regional chemotherapy is localized treatment, combination chemotherapy involves multiple drugs, neoadjuvant chemotherapy is used before other treatment, and adjuvant chemotherapy is used after other treatments. Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses powerful chemicals to stop the production of cancer cells. Each cancer cell divides into 2 daughter cells, they then grow, rest, and the divide again. Different drugs kill at different stages of the life cycle of the cell.
Also known as the Child-Pugh-Turcotte score, it was designed to predict mortality in cirrhosis patients.
Rare malignancies that occur in the cells of the bile ducts. They originate in the liver and terminate at the ampulla of Vater.
Inflammation of the bile duct system.
A surgical procedure to remove your gallbladder — a pear-shaped organ that sits just below your liver on the upper right side of your abdomen.
Any condition in which the release of bile from the liver is blocked. The blockage can occur in the liver (intrahepatic cholestasis) or in the bile ducts (extrahepatic cholestasis).
The fundamental self-replicating genetic structures of cells that contain cellular DNA that carry our genes. There are twenty-three pairs of chromosomes in each cell.
A disease or condition that usually lasts for 3 months or longer and may get worse over time. Chronic diseases tend to occur in older adults and can usually be controlled but not cured. The most common types of chronic disease are cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and arthritis.
A chronic and progressive liver disease characterized by the replacement of normal liver tissue with scar tissue.
The stage of cancer (amount or spread of cancer in the body) that is based on tests that are done before surgery. These include physical exams, imaging tests, laboratory tests (such as blood tests), and biopsies.
A type of research study that tests how well new medical approaches work in people. These studies test new methods of screening, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of a disease. Also called clinical study.
A part of the clinical research process that answers specific questions about whether treatments or other interventions that are being studied work and are safe. Phase I trials test the best way to give a new treatment and the best dose. Phase II trials test whether a new treatment has an effect on the disease. Phase III trials compare the results of people taking a new treatment with the results of people taking the standard treatment. Phase IV trials are done using thousands of people after a treatment has been approved and marketed, to check for side effects that were not seen in the phase III trial.
Small units that are dispersed throughout another substance which are too small for resolution with an ordinary light microscope but are incapable of passing through a semipermeable membrane.
Therapy that combines more than one method of treatment. Also called multimodality therapy and multimodality treatment.
The condition of having two or more diseases at the same time.
The use of an investigational medical product outside of a clinical trial.
Treatment that is used along with standard treatment, but is not considered standard. Standard treatments are based on the results of scientific research and are currently accepted and widely used. Less research has been done for most types of complementary therapy. Complementary therapy includes acupuncture, dietary supplements, massage therapy, hypnosis, and meditation. For example, acupuncture may be used with certain drugs to help lessen cancer pain or nausea and vomiting. Also called complementary medicine.
A company that provides support to a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries through research services based on a contract.
A dye or other substance that helps show abnormal areas inside the body. It is given by injection into a vein, by enema, or by mouth. Contrast material may be used with x-rays, CT scans, MRI, or other imaging tests.
A compound that is excreted from the body in urine. Creatinine levels are measured to monitor kidney function.
A procedure in which an extremely cold liquid or an instrument called a cryoprobe is used to freeze and destroy abnormal tissue. A cryoprobe is cooled with substances such as liquid nitrogen, liquid nitrous oxide, or compressed argon gas. Cryoablation may be used to treat certain types of cancer and some conditions that may become cancer. Also called cryosurgery and cryotherapy.
A surgical technique that utilizes freezing tumor tissue using liquid nitrogen to remove unwanted portions. Cryosurgery is often used when the tumor cannot be removed using surgery, however it is most useful in smaller tumors.
A computerized tomography scan that can take a series of detailed pictures of organs and other areas inside of the body. These pictures are created by use of a computer connected to an X-ray machine. This type of machine can show cancer and metastases earlier and more accurately than other methods.
Surgery to remove all malignant (cancerous) tissue, which is meant to cure the disease. This includes removing part or all of the cancerous organ or tissue and a small amount of healthy tissue around it. Nearby lymph nodes may also be removed. Curative surgery works best for localized cancer. Chemotherapy or radiation therapy may be given before surgery to shrink the tumor or after surgery to kill any cancer cells that remain.

D

The failure of the liver to compensate for damage or injury. This results in a decrease in liver functions.
Closely watching a patient’s condition but not giving treatment unless symptoms appear or change, or there are changes in test results. Deferred therapy avoids problems that may be caused by treatments such as radiation or surgery. It is used to find early signs that the condition is getting worse. During deferred therapy, patients may be given certain exams and tests. It is sometimes used in prostate cancer. Also called expectant management.
The process of identifying a disease, condition, or injury from its signs and symptoms. A health history, physical exam, and tests, such as blood tests, imaging tests, and biopsies, may be used to help make a diagnosis.
Refers to cancer that has spread from the original (primary) tumor to distant organs or distant lymph nodes. Also called distant cancer.
Nucleic acids that are the molecular basis of heredity, are localized especially in cell nuclei, and are constructed of a double helix. DNA determines the structure, function, and behavior of the cell. DNA is held together by weak hydrogen bonds between purine and pyrimidine bases. These bases are adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine.
In medicine, a person who gives blood, cells, tissue, or an organ for use in another person, such as in a blood transfusion or an organ transplant.
Decreasing the size, extent of metastases, and/or lymph node involvement of a tumor by means of anticancer therapy.
An intravenous cytotoxic anthracycline antibiotic drug, doxorubicin hydrochloride has a toxic effect on malignant cells. Of the cancers commonly listed to respond well to doxorubicin, liver cancer is not found although it is commonly part of liver cancer treatment. Possible side effects include: nausea, hair loss, ulcers, mouth sores, difficulty swallowing, anemia, discolored (usually red) urine, sensitivity to the sun, and diarrhea. Doxorubicin is also known as Adriamycin (brand name) or the Red Devil (nickname).
A way of delivering chemotherapy during TACE using special beads that are injected into the arteries in the liver to treat the tumor
The time from randomization to disease progression or death in patients who achieve complete or partial response.
The alteration in size, shape, and organization of cells. Dysplasia may be a precursor of cancer.

E

External radiation (or external beam radiation) is the most common type of radiation therapy used for cancer treatment. A machine is used to aim high-energy rays or particles from outside the body into the tumor. External beam radiation is given most often as photon (x-ray) beams and less often as particle (proton, neutron) or electron beams
A protein made by many cells in the body and by some types of tumors. It causes cells to grow and differentiate (become more specialized). It is a type of growth factor and a type of cytokine.
A protein found on certain types of cells that binds to a substance called epidermal growth factor. The epidermal growth factor receptor protein is involved in cell signaling pathways that control cell division and survival. Sometimes, mutations (changes) in the EGFR gene cause epidermal growth factor receptor proteins to be made in higher than normal amounts on some types of cancer cells. This causes cancer cells to divide more rapidly. Drugs that block epidermal growth factor receptor proteins are being used in the treatment of some types of cancer. Epidermal growth factor receptors are a type of receptor tyrosine kinase. Also called EGFR, ErbB1, and HER1.
The layer of cells that line the blood, lymphatic vessels, and the heart.
The study of the patterns, causes, and control of disease in groups of people.
A procedure that uses an endoscope to examine and x-ray the pancreatic duct, hepatic duct, common bile duct, duodenal papilla, and gallbladder. An endoscope is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing. The endoscope is passed through the mouth and down into the first part of the small intestine (duodenum). A smaller tube (catheter) is then inserted through the endoscope into the bile and pancreatic ducts. A dye is injected through the catheter into the ducts, and an x-ray is taken.
A semisynthetic derivative of podophyllotoxin, etoposide can be administered orally or intravenously. It is often used for neoplastic disease. Possible side effects include: low blood counts, nerve numbness, shortness of breath, hair loss, nausea, vomiting, mouth sores, and diarrhea. Brand names include Toposar®, VePesid®, Etopophos®, and VP-16.
A procedure in which an endoscope is inserted into the body. An endoscope is a thin, tube-like instrument that has a light and a lens for viewing. A probe at the end of the endoscope is used to bounce high-energy sound waves (ultrasound) off internal organs to make a picture (sonogram). Also called endosonography and EUS.
The removal of tissue from the body using a scalpel (a sharp knife), laser, or other cutting tool.
A surgical procedure in which a cut is made through the skin to remove an entire lump or suspicious area so it can be checked under a microscope for signs of disease. A small amount of healthy tissue around the abnormal area may also be removed.
Drugs in clinical trials (not approved yet by the FDA) available to patients who achieve complete or partial response.
A type of radiation therapy that uses a machine to aim high-energy rays at the cancer from outside of the body. Also called external-beam radiation therapy.
Located or occurring outside the liver.

F

Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FLC or FLHCC) is commonly considered a variation of HCC. However, FLC may be uniquely distinct from HCC in both its epidemiology and prognosis. FLC has an improved prognosis when compared to HCC, and is more commonly found in younger patients with non-cirrhotic livers.
measures liver fibrosis or “scarring”, which is essentially liver damage that is often the result of metabolic syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, chronic viral hepatitis or excess alcohol intake.
The growth of fibrous tissue.
It measures the level of scarring to the liver caused by the disease. The greater the fibrosis score, the more likely you are to have severe liver damage.
The first treatment that is given for a disease. It is often part of a standard set of treatments, such as surgery followed by chemotherapy and radiation. When used by itself, first-line therapy is the one accepted as the best treatment. If it doesn’t cure the disease or it causes severe side effects, other treatments may be added or used instead. Also called induction therapy, primary therapy, and primary treatment.
An older chemotherapy drug, fluorouracil is used for many types of cancer, including liver cancer, and can be administered intravenously and orally. (In skin cancer it can be used as a crème applied directly to the skin.) The most common cancers that use this drug include colon, rectal, and breast cancer. Fluorouracil is an antineoplastic antimetabolite. Possible side effects of fluorouracil can include mouth sores, ulcers, diarrhea, blurry vision, skin irregularities and sensitivity, impaired bone marrow function, vomiting, hair loss, brittle nails, and rashes.
The removal of fluid, cells, or tissue with a thin needle for examination under a microscope. Also called FNA biopsy.

G

A procedure to detect areas of the body where cells are dividing rapidly. It is used to locate cancer cells or areas of inflammation. A very small amount of radioactive gallium is injected into a vein and travels through the bloodstream. The gallium is taken up by rapidly dividing cells in the bones, tissues, and organs and is detected by a scanner.
The functional and physical unit of heredity passed from parent to offspring. Genes are pieces of DNA, and most genes contain the information for making a specific protein.
An experimental treatment that adds a new gene or replaces or repairs a mutated (changed) gene inside the body’s cells to help prevent or treat certain diseases, such as cancer. Gene therapy may also be used to train the body’s immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells or to protect healthy cells from the effects of cancer treatment.
It is an enzyme that's found throughout your body, though it mainly exists in your liver.
In cancer, a description of a tumor based on how abnormal the cancer cells and tissue look under a microscope and how quickly the cancer cells are likely to grow and spread. Low-grade cancer cells look more like normal cells and tend to grow and spread more slowly than high-grade cancer cells. Grading systems are different for each type of cancer. They are used to help plan treatment and determine prognosis. Also called histologic grade and tumor grade.

H

A federal law that protects sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without patient’s consent or knowledge.
In liver cancer, it is characterized by tumors that arise from the blood vessels in the liver. It can also occur in other parts of the body, including the spleen and the lungs.
This is a rare malignant vascular tumor that arises in the endothelium and can occur in many places in the body including the liver, bones, and the lungs.
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B108

The toxic accumulation of iron in organs, which leads to dysfunction in certain organs. These organs can include the liver, bone marrow, pancreas, skin, and testicles. Hemochromatosis is often considered a genetic disorder, with an inherited increase in gut iron absorption, but can also arise as a result of multiple blood transfusions. It affects approximately 1 in 400 individuals of European ancestry.

The toxic accumulation of iron in organs, which leads to dysfunction in certain organs. These organs can include the liver, bone marrow, pancreas, skin, and testicles. Hemochromatosis is often considered a genetic disorder, with an inherited increase in gut iron absorption, but can also arise as a result of multiple blood transfusions. It affects approximately 1 in 400 individuals of European ancestry.
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Surgery to remove all or part of the liver.
A portion of the coeliac artery that distributes blood to the liver, stomach, pancreas, duodenum, gallbladder, and the greater omentum.
A nervous system disorder brought on by severe liver disease.
1) Inflammation and damage to the liver. It is generally considered acute if the duration is less than six months, and chronic if greater than six months. 2) A disease marked by inflammation of the liver.
An acute and usually benign viral hepatitis caused by a picornavirus (genus Hepatovirus) that does not persist in the blood serum. It is transmitted through person-to-person contact with oral secretions, sexual fluids, and especially in food and water contaminated with infected fecal matter. The virus can be shed in the stools of an infected individual several weeks before any symptoms appear.
A sometimes-fatal form of viral hepatitis caused by a double stranded DNA virus with genus Orthohepadnavirus of the family Hepadnaviridae. Hepatitis tends to persist in the blood serum. It can be transmitted through contact with infected blood products, sexual intercourse, and from mother to infant. The infection from Hepatitis B is much more severe than that of Hepatitis A and can occur as an asymptomatic carrier state, a chronic infection, or as cirrhosis of the liver. This virus can persist for extended periods of time, especially in asymptomatic carriers. The association of this integrated virus with hepatocellular carcinoma is now well established.
A form of viral hepatitis caused by a single stranded RNA virus of family Flaviviridae. It is most commonly transmitted through blood transfusions, but can be transmitted through sexual contact or exposure to contaminated blood products.
A rarer form of viral hepatitis that occurs only in association with a hepatitis B infection.
A form of viral hepatitis caused by a positive stranded RNA virus of the genus calicivirus.
A virus first identified in 1995 that is genetically related to the hepatitis C virus, but uniquely is not known to cause hepatitis or any other disease. Infection with the hepatitis G virus seems to be beneficial to HIV-infected patients. These patients have longer survival when they are coinfected with hepatitis G and HIV than if they have HIV alone. The hepatitis G virus is also called the GB virus C (GBV-C). This designation is often preferred since the virus is not a cause of hepatitis.
Having to do with the liver, bile ducts, and/or gallbladder.
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common primary malignant liver tumor in which cancer starts in cells of the liver. Hepatocellular carcinoma is also the fourth most common cancer in the world. Symptoms include abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, unexplained fevers, abdominal swelling, the appearance of ascites, muscular wasting, bloating, decreased appetite, and nausea. Jaundice and swelling of the legs occur in more advanced liver cancer. Many patients with hepatocellular carcinoma do not develop symptoms until the advanced stages of the tumor. Hepatitis B and C appear to be the most significant causes of hepatocellular carcinoma worldwide. Also called primary liver cancer and hepatoma.
An epithelial parenchymatous cell of the liver.
See Hepatocellular carcinoma.
Disease or condition that is likely to recur (come back), or spread.
a type of bile duct cancer that occurs in the bile ducts that lead out of the liver (hepatic ducts) and join with the gallbladder. Hilar cholangiocarcinomas are also known as Klatskin tumors.
See Grade
A program that gives special care to people who are near the end of life and have stopped treatment to cure or control their disease. Hospice offers physical, emotional, social, and spiritual support for patients and their families. The main goal of hospice care is to control pain and other symptoms of illness so patients can be as comfortable and alert as possible. It is usually given at home, but may also be given in a hospice center, hospital, or nursing home.
A treatment schedule in which the total dose of radiation is divided into large doses and treatments are given once a day or less often.

I

Icterus, also called jaundice, causes your skin and the whites of your eyes to turn yellow. The condition is caused by too much bilirubin, a yellow chemical in hemoglobin (the substance that carries oxygen in your red blood cells). As red blood cells break down, the body builds new cells to replace them. The old ones are processed by the liver, but if the liver cannot handle the blood cells as they break down, bilirubin builds up in the body.
A procedure that uses a computer to create a picture of a tumor to help guide the radiation beam during radiation therapy. The pictures are made using CT, ultrasound, X-ray, or other imaging techniques. Image-guided radiation therapy makes radiation therapy more accurate and causes less damage to healthy tissue.
Imaging studies are tests performed with a variety of techniques that produce pictures of the inside of a patient's body. They have become indispensable tools in cancer screening and detection.
A complex network of cells, tissues, organs, and the substances they make that helps the body fight infections and other diseases. The immune system includes white blood cells and organs and tissues of the lymph system, such as the thymus, spleen, tonsils, lymph nodes, lymph vessels, and bone marrow.
Cancer immunotherapy, also known as immuno-oncology, is a form of cancer treatment that uses the power of the body's own immune system to prevent, control, and eliminate cancer.
The body's ability to fight infections and other diseases may be compromised if the immune system is suppressed. Immunosuppression may be deliberately induced with drugs, as in preparation for bone marrow or other organ transplantation, to prevent rejection of the donor tissue. It may also result from certain diseases such as AIDS, lymphoma, or from anticancer drugs.
A type of therapy that uses substances to stimulate or suppress the immune system to help the body fight cancer, infection, and other diseases. Some types of immunotherapy only target certain cells of the immune system. Others affect the immune system in a general way. Types of immunotherapy include cytokines, vaccines, bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), and some monoclonal antibodies.
A type of 3-dimensional radiation therapy that uses computer-generated images to show the size and shape of the tumor. Thin beams of radiation of different intensities are aimed at the tumor from many angles. This type of radiation therapy reduces the damage to healthy tissue near the tumor. Also called intensity-modulated radiation therapy.
In its original place. For example, in carcinoma in situ, abnormal cells are found only in the place where they first formed. They have not spread.
A method of putting fluids, including drugs, into the bloodstream. Also called intravenous infusion.
A group formally designated to review and monitor biomedical research involving human subjects.
A type of radiation therapy in which radioactive material sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters is placed directly into or near a tumor. Also called brachytherapy, implant radiation therapy, and radiation brachytherapy.
An investigational procedure, interstitial laser photocoagulation involves the injection of an optical fiber into the liver tumor. The exposed cells undergo thermal necrosis.
It is a way to diagnose and treat cancer and other conditions without major surgery. With IR, your doctor looks inside your body with imaging tests such as ultrasounds, CT scans, or MRIs.
Within an artery (blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to tissues and organs in the body).
Within the liver.
Cancer that has spread beyond the layer of tissue in which it developed and is growing into surrounding, healthy tissues. Also called infiltrating cancer.
Ideas from researchers and investigators who are active in lab and clinical setting.
The formation of or separation into ions by heat, electrical discharge, radiation, or chemical reaction.
A topoisomerase I inhibitor anticancer drug, irinotecan hydrochloride is an alkoloid extract. Irinotecan hydrochloride was investigated as CPT-11 and is administered intravenously. Side effects can include: vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, mouth sores, hair loss, and dizziness.
The exposure to or application of radiation as X-rays or alpha particles.
A process where the liver is exposed to high doses of chemotherapy, and the blood supply to the liver is isolated from the systemic circulation so that the rest of the body is not exposed to the high dose of drugs. This procedure is currently used only in clinical trials.

J

Caused by bilirubin (bile pigment), jaundice results in the yellowing of the whites of eyes and the skin and is a major sign of liver dysfunction.

L

A medication used to reduce the amount of ammonia in the blood of patients with liver disease
Surgery done with the aid of a laparoscope. A laparoscope is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing. It may also have a tool to remove tissue to be checked under a microscope for signs of disease. Also called laparoscopic-assisted resection.
An area of abnormal tissue. A lesion may be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer).
This chemically reduced derivative of folic acid is used generally as an antidote to drugs that act as folic acid antagonists. Specifically, it can reverse the toxicity of methotrexate and potentiate and modulate fluorouracil. Leucovorin can be administered orally, intramuscularly, or intravenously. Possible side effects can include increased pernicious anemia symptoms, allergic reactions, nausea, and vomiting.
is nitrogen in a liquid state at low temperature.
A large glandular solid vertebrate organ located in the upper right quadrant of the abdominal cavity that secretes bile. It is active in the formation of certain blood proteins and in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Also plays a major role in digestion, detoxification, and elimination of substances from the body.
This procedure can be done using fine needle aspiration or with regular needles and is done through the skin. A liver biopsy is usually required to begin treatment and to correctly diagnose cancer. After a liver biopsy, one is able to distinguish between primary liver cancer and cancer that has metastasized to the liver.
A blood test to measure the blood levels of certain substances released by the liver. A high or low level of certain substances can be a sign of liver disease.
A liver scan is a specialized radiology procedure used to examine the liver to identify certain conditions or to assess the function of the liver. A liver scan may also be used to follow the progress of treatment of certain conditions.
Surgery in which a donor provides a new liver or partial liver to replace a diseased liver in another. A complicated procedure, a liver transplant requires both the vessels and biliary tract to be reacttached to a new liver. This is not usually recommended, as tumors will re-grow in the new liver. There has been some success with small hepatocellular tumors, epitheloid hemangioendothioloma, and neuroendocrine carcinoma.
An invasive malignant cancer confined entirely to the organ where the cancer began.
Small bean-shaped structures that is part of the body’s immune system. Lymph nodes filter substances that travel through the lymphatic fluid, and they contain lymphocytes (white blood cells) that help the body fight infection and disease. There are hundreds of lymph nodes found throughout the body. They are connected to one another by lymph vessels. Clusters of lymph nodes are found in the neck, axilla (underarm), chest, abdomen, and groin. For example, there are about 20-40 lymph nodes in the axilla. Also called lymph gland.
A surgical procedure in which the lymph nodes are removed and a sample of tissue is checked under a microscope for signs of cancer. For a regional lymphadenectomy, some of the lymph nodes in the tumor area are removed; for a radical lymphadenectomy, most or all of the lymph nodes in the tumor area are removed. Also called lymph node dissection.
The system of tissues and organs that create and store cells that fight infection and the network of lymphatic vessels and channels that carry lymph.

M

Stands for metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (see NAFLD)
Stands for metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (see NASH)
Stands for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (see NAFLD)
A term used to describe cancer. Malignant cells grow in an uncontrolled way and can invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph system.
The edge or border of the tissue removed in cancer surgery. The margin is described as negative or clean when the pathologist finds no cancer cells at the edge of the tissue, suggesting that all of the cancer has been removed. The margin is described as positive or involved when the pathologist finds cancer cells at the edge of the tissue, suggesting that all of the cancer has not been removed.
predicts survival for persons with advanced liver disease.
A condition marked by extra fat around the abdomen, high levels of blood glucose (sugar) when not eating, high levels of triglycerides (a type of fat) in the blood, low levels of high-density lipoproteins (a type of protein that carries fats) in the blood, and high blood pressure. People with metabolic syndrome are at increased risk of diabetes mellitus and diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Also called metabolic syndrome X.
Tumors that originated from cancer cells in another part of the body.
To spread to another part of the body via blood vessels, lymph channels, or other means.
Any cancer that has spread from the original site of tumor development to another anatomical site.
A type of treatment in which body tissue is exposed to high temperatures to damage and kill cancer cells or to make cancer cells more sensitive to the effects of radiation and certain anticancer drugs. Also called microwave thermotherapy.
An antibiotic that has been shown to have antitumor activity. Mitomycin-C is administered intravenously. Possible side effects can include: weakness, lung scarring, renal failure with sever blood platelet reaction, hair loss, liver toxicity, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and mouth sores. Often used in stomach and pancreatic cancer. Brand name: Mutamycin
A synthetic antineoplastic anthracenedione that is administered intravenously. Side effects can include low blood counts, muscle damage, liver toxicity, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, urine (usually green) discoloration, and mouth sores. Brand names include Novantrone.
An imaging test that lets your doctor see detailed pictures of your small intestine. It can pinpoint inflammation, bleeding, and other problems. It is also called MR enterography.
A procedure in which radio waves and a powerful magnet linked to a computer are used to create detailed pictures of areas inside the body. These pictures can show the difference between normal and diseased tissue. Magnetic resonance imaging makes better images of organs and soft tissue than other scanning techniques, such as computed tomography (CT) or x-ray. Magnetic resonance imaging is especially useful for imaging the brain, the spine, the soft tissue of joints, and the inside of bones. Also called MRI, NMRI, and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging.
In medicine, a term used to describe a treatment planning approach or team that includes a number of doctors and other health care professionals who are experts in different specialties (disciplines). In cancer treatment, the primary disciplines are medical oncology (treatment with drugs), surgical oncology (treatment with surgery), and radiation oncology (treatment with radiation).
Any change in the DNA sequence of a cell. Mutations may be caused by mistakes during cell division, or they may be caused by exposure to DNA-damaging agents in the environment. Mutations can be harmful, beneficial, or have no effect. If they occur in cells that make eggs or sperm, they can be inherited; if mutations occur in other types of cells, they are not inherited. Certain mutations may lead to cancer or other diseases. A mutation is sometimes called a variant.
Toxic compounds produced by certain molds and fungi. Some have medicinal uses.

N

is a very common disorder and refers to a group of conditions where there is accumulation of excess fat in the liver of people who drink little or no alcohol.
is liver inflammation and damage caused by a buildup of fat in the liver. It is part of a group of conditions called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
The localized death of living tissue.
The localized death of living tissue using heat.
Treatment given as a first step to shrink a tumor before the main treatment, which is usually surgery, is given. Examples of neoadjuvant therapy include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy. It is a type of induction therapy.
A new abnormal tissue growth that can be malignant or benign. Malignant neoplasms are less differentiated than benign neoplasms.
Neuroendocrine tumors are cancers that begin in specialized cells called neuroendocrine cells. Neuroendocrine cells have traits similar to those of nerve cells and hormone-producing cells. Neuroendocrine tumors are rare and can occur anywhere in the body.
A drug that binds to the protein PD-1 to help immune cells kill cancer cells better and is used to treat many different types of cancer. These include cancers that express the protein PD-L1 or that have certain mutations (changes) in genes involved in DNA repair. Nivolumab is used alone or with other drugs to treat certain types of esophageal cancer, gastroesophageal junction cancer, stomach cancer, colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, renal cell carcinoma (a type of kidney cancer), melanoma, hepatocellular carcinoma (a type of liver cancer), squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, classic Hodgkin lymphoma, urothelial carcinoma (a type of bladder or urinary tract cancer), and malignant pleural mesothelioma. It is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Nivolumab may block PD-1 and help the immune system kill cancer cells. It is a type of monoclonal antibody and a type of immune checkpoint inhibitor. Brand name is Opdivo.
A growth or lump that may be malignant (cancer) or benign (not cancer).
In medicine, it describes a procedure that does not require inserting an instrument through the skin or into a body opening. In cancer, it describes disease that has not spread outside the tissue in which it began.

O

Blockage of a passageway.
A gene that is a mutated (changed) form of a gene involved in normal cell growth. Oncogenes may cause the growth of cancer cells. Mutations in genes that become oncogenes can be inherited or caused by being exposed to substances in the environment that cause cancer.
A doctor who has special training in diagnosing and treating cancer. Some oncologists specialize in a particular type of cancer treatment. For example, a radiation oncologist specializes in treating cancer with radiation.
A branch of medicine that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. It includes medical oncology (the use of chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and other drugs to treat cancer), radiation oncology (the use of radiation therapy to treat cancer), and surgical oncology (the use of surgery and other procedures to treat cancer).
Describes a condition that can be treated by surgery.
A flexible visually transparent slender object, usually made of glass or plastic, through which light can be transmitted by successive internal reflections.

P

Care given to improve the quality of life and help reduce pain in people who have a serious or life-threatening disease, such as cancer. The goal of palliative care is to prevent or treat, as early as possible, the symptoms of the disease and the side effects caused by treatment of the disease. It also attends to the psychological, social, and spiritual problems caused by the disease or its treatment. For cancer, palliative care may include therapies, such as surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy, to remove, shrink, or slow the growth of a tumor that is causing pain. It may also include family and caregiver support. Palliative care may be given with other treatments from the time of diagnosis until the end of life.
A treatment not expected to provide a cure. Palliative treatments focus on the comfort of the patient and relief of symptoms.
The stage of cancer (amount or spread of cancer in the body) that is based on how different from normal the cells in samples of tissue look under a microscope.
A doctor who has special training in identifying diseases by studying cells and tissues under a microscope.
A type of radiation therapy that uses streams of protons (tiny particles with a positive charge) to kill tumor cells. This type of treatment can reduce the amount of radiation damage to healthy tissue near a tumor. It is used to treat cancers of the head and neck and organs such as the brain, eye, lung, spine, and prostate. Proton beam radiation is different from x-ray radiation.
Passing through the skin, as an injection or a topical medicine.
An injection of ethanol (alcohol) through the skin directly into a tumor to kill cancer cells. Ultrasound or a CT scan is used to guide the needle into the tumor. Also called alcohol ablation, ethanol ablation, and PEI.
A measure of how well a patient is able to perform ordinary tasks and carry out daily activities.
The tissue that lines the abdominal wall and covers most of the organs in the abdomen.
A genetic disease in which fluid-filled sacs called cysts grow mainly in the kidneys
is a type of nuclear medicine imaging. In the procedure, small amount of radioactive glucose (sugar) is injected into a vein, and a scanner is used to make detailed, computerized pictures of areas inside the body where the glucose is taken up. Because cancer cells often take up more glucose than normal cells, the pictures can be used to find cancer cells in the body.
High blood pressure in the vein that carries blood to the liver from the stomach, small and large intestines, spleen, pancreas, and gallbladder. It is usually caused by a block in the blood flow through the liver due to cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver.
A blood vessel that carries blood to the liver from the intestines, spleen, pancreas, and gallbladder. Also called hepatic portal vein.
See Hepatocellular carcinoma.
See Hepatocellular carcinoma.
See first-line therapy.
A term used to describe the original, or first, tumor in the body. Cancer cells from a primary tumor may spread to other parts of the body and form new, or secondary, tumors. This is called metastasis. These secondary tumors are the same type of cancer as the primary tumor. Also called primary cancer.
The likely outcome or course of a disease; the chance of recovery or recurrence.
A procedure to x-ray the hepatic and common bile ducts. A contrasting agent is injected through the skin into the liver or bile duct, and the ducts are then x-rayed to find the point of obstruction.
A procedure to drain bile to relieve pressure in the bile ducts caused by a blockage. An x-ray of the liver and bile ducts locates the blockage of bile flow. Images made by ultrasound guide placement of a stent (tube), which remains in the liver. Bile drains through the stent into the small intestine or into a collection bag outside the body. This procedure may relieve jaundice before surgery. Also called percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage.

R

Uses high-energy X-rays, electron beams, or radioactive isotopes to kill cancer cells without exceeding safe doses to normal tissue. It does this by ionization. Some cells die immediately after the radiation due to direct effect, but most die because the radiation damages the chromosomes and DNA so that they can no longer divide. There is limited usefulness for radiation in liver cancer patients. It is usually used in combination with surgery, if at all, and can treat the liver area after a tumor has been removed. Currently, radiation is used as a way to decrease the pain associated with larger liver masses and metastases.
The use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons, and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external-beam radiation therapy), or it may come from radioactive material placed in the body near cancer cells (internal radiation therapy or brachytherapy). Systemic radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance, such as a radiolabeled monoclonal antibody, that travels in the blood to tissues throughout the body. Also called irradiation and radiotherapy.
This procedure destroys liver cells 4 cm and smaller by heating them, using a needle and electrical current, to temperatures between 80 and 100 degrees C. This is currently a palliative treatment.
In oncology, a lymph node that drains lymph from the region around a tumor.
A drug used to treat certain types of colorectal cancer, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, and hepatocellular carcinoma (a type of liver cancer). It is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Regorafenib blocks certain proteins, which may help keep cancer cells from growing. It may also prevent the growth of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow. Regorafenib is a type of kinase inhibitor and a type of antiangiogenesis agent. Also called Stivarga.
The return of a disease or the signs and symptoms of a disease after a period of improvement. Relapse also refers to returning to the use of an addictive substance or behavior, such as cigarette smoking.
A decrease in or disappearance of signs and symptoms of cancer. In partial remission, some, but not all, signs and symptoms of cancer have disappeared. In complete remission, all signs and symptoms of cancer have disappeared, although cancer still may be in the body.
Able to be removed by surgery.
Excision of tissue or organ. In primary liver cancer, the cancer must not have metastasized to any other part of the body to be a candidate for resection.
Cancer cells that remain after attempts to remove the cancer have been made.
A process used to find out the amount or spread of cancer in the body if it comes back or gets worse after treatment. Restaging may also be done to find out how the cancer responded to treatment. If restaging is done and a new stage is assigned, the new stage will be marked with an “r” in front of it to show that it’s different from the original stage. Usually, the original stage stays the same, even if the cancer comes back or gets worse. The same tests that were done to diagnose the cancer are usually done again. Restaging helps doctors plan the best treatment for cancer that has come back or gotten worse.
Something that increases the chance of developing a disease. Some examples of risk factors for cancer are age, a family history of certain cancers, use of tobacco products, being exposed to radiation or certain chemicals, infection with certain viruses or bacteria, and certain genetic changes.

S

This "soft-tissue" cancer occurs in the supportive tissues of the body.
A type of external radiation therapy that uses special equipment to position a patient and precisely deliver radiation to tumors in the body (except the brain). The total dose of radiation is divided into smaller doses given over several days. This type of radiation therapy helps spare normal tissue. Also called SABR, SBRT, and stereotactic ablative body radiation therapy.
The white layer of the eye that covers most of the outside of the eyeball.
Checking for disease when there are no symptoms. Since screening may find diseases at an early stage, there may be a better chance of curing the disease. Examples of cancer screening tests are the mammogram (for breast cancer), colonoscopy (for colon cancer), and the Pap test and HPV tests (for cervical cancer). Screening can also include doing a genetic test to check for a person’s risk of developing an inherited disease.
In medicine, the opinion of a doctor other than the patient’s current doctor. The second doctor reviews the patient’s medical records and gives an opinion about the patient’s health problem and how it should be treated. A second opinion may confirm or question the first doctor’s diagnosis and treatment plan, give more information about the patient’s disease or condition, and offer other treatment options.
A term used to describe cancer that has spread (metastasized) from the place where it first started to another part of the body. Secondary cancers are the same type of cancer as the original (primary) cancer. For example, cancer cells may spread from the breast (primary cancer) to form new tumors in the lung (secondary cancer). The cancer cells in the lung are just like the ones in the breast. Also called secondary tumor.
See Aspartate aminotransferase.
See Alanine Aminotransferase.
A problem that occurs when treatment affects healthy tissues or organs. Some common side effects of cancer treatment are nausea, vomiting, fatigue, pain, decreased blood cell counts, hair loss, and mouth sores.
Sonography, also called diagnostic ultrasound or diagnostic medical sonography, is an imaging method that uses sound waves to produce images of structures within your body. The images can provide valuable information for diagnosing and directing treatment for a variety of diseases and conditions.
A drug used to treat certain types of hepatocellular carcinoma (a type of liver cancer), renal cell carcinoma (a type of kidney cancer), and thyroid cancer. It is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Sorafenib blocks certain proteins, which may help keep cancer cells from growing and dividing and may kill them. It may also prevent the growth of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow. Sorafenib is a type of kinase inhibitor and a type of antiangiogenesis agent. Also called BAY 43-9006 and Nexavar.
Performing exams and tests to learn the extent of the cancer within the body, especially whether the disease has spread from where it first formed to other parts of the body. It is important to know the stage of the disease in order to plan the best treatment.
Care given to improve the quality of life of people who have an illness or disease by preventing or treating, as early as possible, the symptoms of the disease and the side effects caused by treatment of the disease. Supportive care includes physical, psychological, social, and spiritual support for patients and their families. There are many types of supportive care. Examples include pain management, nutritional support, counseling, exercise, music therapy, meditation, and palliative care. Supportive care may be given with other treatments from the time of diagnosis until the end of life.
A procedure to remove or repair a part of the body or to find out whether disease is present. Also called operation.
In medicine, closely watching a patient’s condition but not treating it unless there are changes in test results. Surveillance is also used to find early signs that a disease has come back. It may also be used for a person who has an increased risk of a disease, such as cancer. During surveillance, certain exams and tests are done on a regular schedule. In public health, surveillance may also refer to the ongoing collection of information about a disease, such as cancer, in a certain group of people. The information collected may include where the disease occurs in a population and whether it affects people of a certain gender, age, or ethnic group.
The percentage of people in a study or treatment group who are still alive for a certain period of time after they were diagnosed with or started treatment for a disease, such as cancer. The survival rate is often stated as a five-year survival rate, which is the percentage of people in a study or treatment group who are alive five years after their diagnosis or the start of treatment. Also called overall survival rate (OSS).
In cancer, survivorship focuses on the health and well-being of a person with cancer from the time of diagnosis until the end of life. This includes the physical, mental, emotional, social, and financial effects of cancer that begin at diagnosis and continue through treatment and beyond. The survivorship experience also includes issues related to follow-up care (including regular health and wellness checkups), late effects of treatment, cancer recurrence, second cancers, and quality of life. Family members, friends, and caregivers are also considered part of the survivorship experience.
A physical or mental problem that a person experiences that may indicate a disease or condition. Symptoms cannot be seen and do not show up on medical tests. Some examples of symptoms are headache, fatigue, nausea, and pain.
Treatment with anticancer drugs that travel through the blood to cells all over the body.
Disease that affects the whole body.

T

A procedure in which the blood supply to a tumor is blocked after anticancer drugs are given in blood vessels near the tumor. Sometimes, the anticancer drugs are attached to small beads that are injected into an artery that feeds the tumor. The beads block blood flow to the tumor as they release the drug. This allows a higher amount of drug to reach the tumor for a longer period of time, which may kill more cancer cells. It also causes fewer side effects because very little of the drug reaches other parts of the body. Transarterial chemoembolization is used to treat liver cancer. Also called chemoembolization and TACE.
A procedure in which the blood supply to a tumor or an abnormal area of tissue is blocked. During transarterial embolization, a small incision (cut) is made in the inner thigh and a catheter (thin, flexible tube) is inserted and guided into an artery near the tumor or abnormal tissue. Once the catheter is in place, small particles made of tiny gelatin sponges or beads are injected. This blocks the artery and stops the flow of blood to the tumor or abnormal area of tissue. Transarterial embolization is used to treat some types of liver cancer, kidney cancer, and neuroendocrine tumors. Also called arterial embolization and TAE.
A type of treatment that uses drugs or other substances to identify and attack specific types of cancer cells with less harm to normal cells. Some targeted therapies block the action of certain enzymes, proteins, or other molecules involved in the growth and spread of cancer cells. Other types of targeted therapies help the immune system kill cancer cells or deliver toxic substances directly to cancer cells and kill them. Targeted therapy may have fewer side effects than other types of cancer treatment. Most targeted therapies are either small molecule drugs or monoclonal antibodies.
Cancer that cannot be cured and leads to death. Also called end-stage cancer.
A procedure using heat to remove tissue or a part of the body, or destroy its function. For example, to remove the lining of the uterus, a catheter is inserted through the cervix into the uterus, a balloon at the end of the catheter is inflated, and fluid inside the balloon is heated to destroy the lining of the uterus.
Poisons produced by animals and plants.
A procedure in which whole blood or parts of blood are put into a patient’s bloodstream through a vein. The blood may be donated by another person or it may have been taken from the patient and stored until needed. Also called blood transfusion.
A surgical procedure in which tissue or an organ is transferred from one area of a person’s body to another area, or from one person (the donor) to another person (the recipient).
An abnormal mass of tissue that forms when cells grow and divide more than they should or do not die when they should. Tumors may be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer). Benign tumors may grow large but do not spread into, or invade, nearby tissues or other parts of the body. Malignant tumors can spread into, or invade, nearby tissues. They can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. Also called neoplasm.
Refers to the number of cancer cells, the size of a tumor, or the amount of cancer in the body. Also called tumor load.

U

A procedure that uses high-energy sound waves to look at tissues and organs inside the body. The sound waves make echoes that form pictures of the tissues and organs on a computer screen (sonogram). Ultrasound may be used to help diagnose diseases, such as cancer. It may also be used during pregnancy to check the fetus (unborn baby) and during medical procedures, such as biopsies. Also called ultrasonography.
Unable to be removed by excision (i.e., surgery).

V

A substance or group of substances meant to cause the immune system to respond to a tumor or to microorganisms, such as bacteria or viruses. A vaccine can help the body recognize and destroy cancer cells or microorganisms.
A type of treatment that uses a substance or group of substances to stimulate the immune system to destroy a tumor or infectious microorganisms such as bacteria or viruses.
Veins that are enlarged or swollen.
Viral hepatitis is an infection that causes liver inflammation and damage.
Treatment using a virus that has been changed in the laboratory to find and destroy cancer cells without harming healthy cells. It is a type of targeted therapy. Also called oncolytic virotherapy, oncolytic virus therapy, and virotherapy.

W

A rare, inherited disorder in which too much copper builds up in the body. The extra copper is stored in the body’s tissues and organs, especially in the liver, brain, and eyes. This can cause liver disease, central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) problems, and mental problems. Signs and symptoms of Wilson disease include yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes, a gold or brown ring around the colored part of the eyes, swelling in the abdomen and legs, fatigue, loss of appetite, problems with speech and swallowing, uncontrolled movements or muscle stiffness, anxiety, depression, and mood swings. Wilson disease is caused by mutations (changes) in the ATP7B gene. It is a genetic disorder that is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner and is usually diagnosed in teens and young adults. It is a type of copper storage disease. Also called hepatolenticular degeneration.

Y

A radioactive form of the rare metal yttrium that is used in radiation therapy to treat some types of tumors. Yttrium Y-90 can be linked to a molecule, such as a monoclonal antibody, to help it locate and bind to certain substances in the body, including cancer cells. The radiation may kill the cancer cells.

Liver Disease and Cancer Glossary

A

AASLD

Abdominal CT scan

Ablation

Abnormality

Acetaminophen

Acute

Adenocarcinoma

Adriamycin

Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR)

Adverse Effect (side effect) (AE)

Aflatoxin

AFP

Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)

Albumin

Alpha 1 - antitrypsin

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)

Alkaloid

Alkylating agent

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)

Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) tumor marker

Alternative therapy

Aminotransferase

Angiogram

Angiosarcoma

Antibody

Antigen

Antimetabolites

Antitumor antibiotic

Ascites

Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)

Asymptomatic

Autoimmune hepatitis

B

Benign

Bile

Bile Duct

Biliary atresia

Bilirubin

Biopsy

Blood cells

Budd-Chiari syndrome

C

Cancer

Caput medusae

Carcinogen

Carcinoma

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Chemoemobilization

Chemotherapy

Child-Pugh score

Cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangitis

Cholecystectomy

Cholestasis

Chromosomes

Chronic

Cirrhosis

Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC)

Clinical stage

Clinical trial

Clinical trial phase

Colloid particles

Combination therapy

Comorbidity

Compassionate Use

Complementary therapy

Contract Research Organization (CRO)

Contrast

Creatinine

Cryoablation

Cryosurgery

CT scan

Curative therapy

D

Decompensation

Deferred therapy

Diagnosis

Distant metastasis