Archives: Glossary

Treatment that is directed to a specific organ or limited area of the body, as opposed to systemic therapy which affects the whole body. Examples of localised therapy used in cancer include surgery and radiation therapy, amongst others.

A type of treatment that targets specific molecules that cancer cells need to survive and spread. Molecularly targeted therapies work in different ways to treat cancer, there are many example, such as: Interrupting the signals that cause cancer cells to grow and divide stopping angiogenesis, the process that forms blood vessels, which cancer cells need […]

Immune checkpoint modulators are a type of immunotherapy. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are the most common type of immune checkpoint modulators. Immune checkpoints are a normal part of the immune system; their role is to regulate the immune response to ensure it is strong enough to appropriately respond to danger signals but not so strong or […]

A type of treatment that helps the body’s own immune system to fight cancer, and other diseases, more effectively. Immunotherapy can stimulate or suppress the immune system. Some types of immunotherapies only target certain cells of the immune system, e.g. immune checkpoint modulators, others affect the immune system in a general way, e.g. cytokines.

A substance that kills cells, including cancer cells. These agents may stop cancer cells from dividing and growing and may cause tumours to shrink in size.

The initial treatment used to target tumours.

A treatment that adds a new gene or replaces/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 recognise and attack cancer cells or to protect healthy cells from the effects of cancer […]

A substance that slows or stops the growth of cells, including cancer cells, without killing them. These agents may cause tumours to stop growing and spreading without causing them to shrink in size.

A cancer treatment that uses drugs to kill cancer cells or slow their growth. Chemotherapy may be given alone or in combination with other treatments. There are many different types of chemotherapy/chemotherapeutic drugs, these include: Alkylating agents: damage cell DNA to prevent cancer cells from dividing Antimetabolites: prevent cancer cells from making or utilising the […]

Treatments that are used in conjunction with conventional treatment. They might improve general health, wellbeing and quality of life, and help people cope with side effects of conventional cancer treatment.