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Glossary

Showing 771-780 out of 1184 Terms

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  • Metastasis

    The spread of cancer cells from the place where they first formed to another part of the body. In metastasis, cancer cells break away from the original (primary) tumor, travel through the blood or lymph system, and form a new tumor in other organs or tissues of the body. The new, metastatic tumor is the same type of cancer as the primary tumor. For example, if breast cancer spreads to the lung, the cancer cells in the lung are breast cancer cells, not lung cancer cells.

  • Metastasize

    (meh-TAS-tuh-size)

    To spread from one part of the body to another. When cancer cells metastasize and form secondary tumors, the cells in the metastatic tumor are like those in the original (primary) tumor.

  • Metastatic

    (meh-tuh-STA-tik)

    Having to do with metastasis, which is the spread of cancer from the primary site (place where it started) to other places in the body.

  • Methodology

    (MEH-thuh-DAH-loh-jee)

    In medicine, the rules and procedures for doing research and evaluating results.

  • Methotrexate

    (meh-thuh-TREK-sayt)

    A drug used to treat many types of cancer. It is also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and severe psoriasis (a type of skin condition). Methotrexate stops cells from using folic acid to make DNA and may kill cancer cells. It may also lower the body’s immune response. Methotrexate is a type of antimetabolite and a type of antifolate. Also called amethopterin, MTX, Rheumatrex, and Trexall.

  • Methylprednisolone

    (MEH-thul-pred-NIH-suh-lone)

    A corticosteroid hormone replacement.

  • Microorganism

    (MY-kroh-OR-guh-NIH-zum)

    An organism that can be seen only through a microscope. Microorganisms include bacteria, protozoa, algae, and fungi. Although viruses are not considered living organisms, they are sometimes classified as microorganisms.

  • Minimal Residual Disease

    (MIH-nih-mul ree-ZID-yoo-ul dih-ZEEZ)

    A term used to describe a very small number of cancer cells that remain in the body during or after treatment. Minimal residual disease can be found only by highly sensitive laboratory methods that are able to find one cancer cell among one million normal cells. Checking to see if there is minimal residual disease may help plan treatment, find out how well treatment is working or if cancer has come back, or make a prognosis. Minimal residual disease testing is used mostly for blood cancers such as lymphoma and leukemia. Also called MRD.

  • Minimally invasive surgery

    (MIH-nih-muh-lee in-VAY-siv SER-juh-ree)

    Surgery that is done using small incisions (cuts) and few stitches. During minimally invasive surgery, one or more small incisions may be made in the body. A laparoscope (thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing) is inserted through one opening to guide the surgery. Tiny surgical instruments are inserted through other openings to do the surgery. Minimally invasive surgery may cause less pain, scarring, and damage to healthy tissue, and the patient may have a faster recovery than with traditional surgery.

  • Mismatch repair

    (MIS-match reh-PAYR)

    Describes cells that have mutations (changes) in certain genes that are involved in correcting mistakes made when DNA is copied in a cell. Mismatch repair (MMR) deficient cells usually have many DNA mutations, which may lead to cancer.