Key Terms

Blood and Diagnostic Information

B-cells: A type of lymphocyte, also known as B-lymphocyte, that develop in the bone marrow and are capable of producing antibodies.

Beta-2 microglobulin (B2M): A protein associated with the outer membrane of many cells including lymphocytes. Its levels are elevated in solid tumors and lymphproliferative disease such as B-CLL, non-Hodgkins lymphoma and multiple myeloma. It has recently been considered that low B2M scores (below 2.5) are good prognostications for B-CLL. B2M is said to be an indicator of the degree of aggressiveness of CLL.

Bone marrow biopsy (BMB): A procedure involving the insertion of a thin needle into the breastbone or more commonly, the hip, in order to aspirate a sample of the marrow. A small piece of cortical bone may also be obtained for biopsy.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL): A form of leukemia that often progresses slowly and is characterized by the relentless accumulation of lymphocytes. CLL is the most common form of adult leukemia in the western world and most often affects adults over the age of 55. CLL sometimes occurs in younger adults, but it almost never affects children.

Complete blood count (CBC): Measurement of the numbers of white cells, red cells, and platelets in a cubic millimetre of blood.

Complete Remission: the disappearance of all signs and symptoms of disease.

Computer assisted tomography (CAT Scan or CT Scan): A sophisticated x-ray technique used to produce detailed internal images of the body.

Hematocrit: The percentage of a volume of blood that consists of red blood cells. Sometimes expressed as packed cell volume.

Hemoglobin: A protein which enables the Red Blood Cells to distribute oxygen throughout the body. It is measured in grams per deciliter (g/dL) of blood.

Lymphocytes: A type of white blood cell consisting mainly of B-cells and T-cells. Counted in thousands per cubic millimeter of blood. Another measurement of interest is the percentage of white cells which are lymphocytes.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): A technique that uses an intense magnetic field to generate images of the internal organs. Properties of normal and cancerous tissue differ, and this allows malignant tumors to be visualized by computer processing of the signals detected

Neutrophils: A type of white blood cell (also known as a polymorphonuclear neutrophil or PMN) which is a type of granulocyte and is a primary defense against bacterial invasion. Counted in terms of thousands per cubic millimeter of blood.

Platelets: Cell in the blood, also called thrombocyte, which is necessary to help blood clot. The platelet count is the number of thousands of platelets per cubic millimeter.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR): A laboratory process in which a particular DNA segment from a mixture of DNA chains is rapidly replicated, producing a large, readily analyzed sample of a piece of DNA.

Red Blood Count (RBC): A count of the number of millions of red blood cells, also called erythrocytes, per cubic millimeter of blood. These cells are responsible for the transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Spleen: An organ on the left side of the abdomen near the stomach that plays an important role in immune system activities. It produces lymphocytes, filters the blood, stores blood cells, and destroys those that are aging. It is part of the lymphatic system.

T-Cell: Also called T-Lymphocyte. Consists of 3 classes: an inflammatory T cell which routes neutrophils to sites of infection, a cytotoxic T lymphocyte that kills virus infected cells, and a helper T cell that enhances production of antibodies by B cells.

White Blood Count (WBC): Count of white blood cells, also called leukocytes, in thousands per cubic millimeter of blood. White blood cells consist of three types of cells: lymphocytes, monocytes (or macrophages) and granulocytes (neutrophils, basophils, and eosinophils).

Treatment

Alkylating agents: A class of chemotherapy drug which forms new bonds within the twisted DNA strands, thus disrupting the normal functions of the DNA, especially the ability to divide.

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation: A marrow or stem cell transplant using donor stem cells.

Anthracyclines: Drug used in leukemia therapy to prevent cell division by disrupting the DNA. Drugs of this type include, daunorubicin, doxorubicin (adriamycin), epirubicin, and idarubicin.

Antimicrobial therapy: Treatment to kill micro-organisms (such as bacteria or fungi) or to suppress their growth.

Autologous bone marrow transplantation: A marrow or stem cell transplant using the patient’s own blood products which have been previously extracted and purged.

Bone marrow transplantation (BMT): A procedure in which doctors replace marrow destroyed by high doses of anticancer drugs and/or radiation.

Chemotherapy: Treatment using cytotoxic anti-cancer drugs, which may be used singly or in combination to kill or prevent the growth and division of cells.

Corticosteroids: Complex chemical compound produced in the outer layer of the adrenal gland, which is located near the kidney. This compound is important in regulating body chemistry. Used in hematological disorders to suppress rampant growth of cancerous white blood cells as well as to stimulate the bone marrow red cells and length the survival of red cells and platelets.

Leukapheresis: A blood filtering and recycling process used to remove lymphocytes.

Monoclonal antibodies (MOABs): Antibodies that react with a single antigen and therefore can be used to target cancer killing agents.

Purine Analog: A class of antimetabolite chemotherapy drug which replace purines, substances that are the building blocks of DNA and RNA. This replacement causes programmed cell death.

Radiation therapy: Treatment with high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. Also called radiotherapy.

Splenectomy: Surgical removal of the spleen.

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