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Glossary

Showing 781-790 out of 1156 Terms

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  • Monitor

    (MAH-nih-ter)

    A machine that continually records your heart activity.

  • Monoclonal Antibody

    (MAH-noh-KLOH-nul AN-tee-BAH-dee)

    A type of protein made in the laboratory that can bind to substances in the body, including cancer cells. There are many kinds of monoclonal antibodies. A monoclonal antibody is made so that it binds to only one substance. Monoclonal antibodies are being used to treat some types of cancer. They can be used alone or to carry drugs, toxins, or radioactive substances directly to cancer cells.

  • Monoclonal antibodies

    Antibodies made in the laboratory and designed to target specific substances called antigens. Monoclonal antibodies which have been attached to chemotherapy drugs or radioactive substances are being studied to see if they can seek out antigens unique to cancer cells and deliver these treatments directly to the cancer, thus killing the cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. Monoclonal antibodies are also used in other ways, for example, to help find and classify cancer cells.

  • Monocyte

    (MAH-noh-site)

    A type of immune cell that is made in the bone marrow and travels through the blood to tissues in the body where it becomes a macrophage or a dendritic cell. Macrophages surround and kill microorganisms, ingest foreign material, remove dead cells, and boost immune responses. During inflammation, dendritic cells boost immune responses by showing antigens on their surface to other cells of the immune system. A monocyte is a type of white blood cell and a type of phagocyte.

  • Mucosa

    (myoo-KOH-suh)

    The moist, inner lining of some organs and body cavities (such as the nose, mouth, lungs, and stomach). Glands in the mucosa make mucus (a thick, slippery fluid). Also called mucous membrane.

  • Mucositis

    (myoo-koh-SY-tis)

    Inflammation of the mucous membrane, e.g. Inside the mouth.

  • Mucous membrane

    (MYOO-kus MEM-brayn)

    The moist, inner lining of some organs and body cavities (such as the nose, mouth, lungs, and stomach). Glands in the mucous membrane make mucus (a thick, slippery fluid). Also called mucosa.

  • Mucus

    (MYOO-kus)

    A thick, slippery fluid made by the membranes that line certain organs of the body, including the nose, mouth, throat, and vagina.

  • Multidisciplinary

    (MUL-tee-DIH-sih-plih-NAYR-ee)

    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).

  • Multidrug resistance

    (MUL-tee-... reh-ZIH-stunts)

    Adaptation of tumor cells to anticancer drugs in ways that make the drugs less effective.