Clinical Cancer Genetics - Cancer Risk Assessment Glossary of Terms

These flashcards cover important vocabulary and concepts related to cancer genetics and risk assessment.

Acquired Mutation

A genetic change that arises within individual cells and accumulates throughout a person's lifetime; also called somatic mutations.

Adenocarcinoma

Cancer arising in gland forming tissue; for example, breast cancer.

Adjuvant Therapy

Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, or biological therapy given after primary treatment to increase chances of a cure.

Alleles

Variant forms of a particular gene that produce variations in inherited characteristics.

Amenorrhea

Absence of menstruation.

Anaplasia

Loss of differentiation of cells; reversion to a more primitive cell type.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death; the body's normal method of disposing of damaged or unneeded cells.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

A type of skin cancer that arises from the basal cells, found in the base of the epidermis.

BRCA1/BRCA2

Genes involved in normal cell growth; mutations confer predisposition to breast and ovarian cancers.

Chemoprevention

Medications used for cancer prevention or risk-reduction.

DNA

The substance of heredity; a large molecule that carries genetic information cells need to replicate.

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)

A herpes virus that causes infectious mononucleosis and is associated with Burkitt’s lymphoma.

Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP)

An autosomal dominantly inherited condition in which numerous polyps develop throughout the colon.

Gene Therapy

Treating disease by replacing, manipulating, or supplementing nonfunctional genes.

Lynch Syndrome

A heritable cancer syndrome characterized by early onset of colon cancer and increased risk for other cancers.

Mendelian Inheritance

The manner in which genes and traits are passed from parents to children.

Mutation

A structural alteration in DNA; changes can have no effect, cause harm, or improve survival.

Oncogene

A gene that, when mutated or over-expressed, has the potential to cause cancer.

Phenotype

The observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism.

Prophylactic Surgery

Surgery to remove tissue before cancer has the chance to develop.

Tumor-Suppressor Genes

Genes that normally regulate cell growth but can allow uncontrolled cell growth when inactivated.

X Chromosome

A sex chromosome; normal females carry two X chromosomes.