Simulation Exam 1 (Wednesday)

Absolute survival

Patients alive at the endpoint vs. those who have died; excludes non-cancer deaths.

Adaptive therapy

A treatment that accommodates anatomic changes occurring over a treatment course (e.g., changes in tumor size).

Adjuvant therapy

Use of one or more treatments in addition to another primary treatment to increase effectiveness.

Alkylating agents

Cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents that bond directly with nucleic acids to interfere with DNA replication.

Angiogenesis inhibitors

Targeted therapies that disrupt the formation of new blood vessels, preventing tumors from securing a blood supply.

Antibiotics (Chemotherapy)

Cytotoxic agents that disrupt DNA and RNA transcription in malignant cells.

Antimetabolites

Chemotherapeutic drugs that interfere with the synthesis of new nucleic acids; highly toxic to proliferating cells.

Apoptosis inducers

Targeted agents designed to trigger programmed cell death (apoptosis) in malignant cells.

Bleomycin toxicity

Chemotherapeutic agent known for pulmonary toxicity, exhibiting a synergistic damaging effect when combined with radiation.

Brachytherapy

Short-distance radiation therapy utilizing sealed radioactive sources placed directly into or adjacent to the tumor.

Cancer gene therapy

Treatment aiming to correct genetic defects or introduce new genes to fight cancer cells.

Chemotherapeutics / Cytotoxic drugs

Medications classified by action or source used to destroy primary and circulating cancer cells systemically.

Clinical performance status

An evaluation of a patient's daily physical capabilities, which impacts overall prognosis and treatment tolerance.

Clinical trial: Phase I

First human testing phase establishing safety, delivery methods, and maximum tolerated dose (MTD).

Clinical trial: Phase II

Study evaluating whether a treatment demonstrates an appropriate tumoricidal effect against target cancers.

Clinical trial: Phase III

Trial comparing an experimental treatment directly against current standard-of-care regimens using a randomized sample.

Clinical trial: Phase IV

Post-FDA approval studies monitoring long-term survival, late-emerging toxicity, and real-world safety.

Combination chemotherapy

Concurrent use of multiple chemotherapeutic drugs acting on different cell-cycle phases to maximize cell kill.

Complementary medicine

Non-mainstream healing modalities (e.g., massage, acupuncture) used alongside standard medical cancer care.

Conformal therapy

Three-dimensional radiation planning allowing higher target doses while sparing surrounding normal tissues.

Core needle biopsy

Biopsy using a large needle to extract a tissue core, preserving tumor architecture for improved diagnostic accuracy.

Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) toxicity

Chemotherapeutic agent with significant cardiotoxicity that acts synergistically with radiation therapy.

Excisional biopsy

Surgical attempt to remove an entire suspected tumor mass along with diagnostic margins.

Exophytic

Tumors that project outward from an epithelial surface; generally associated with a better prognosis than invasive tumors.

External beam radiation therapy (EBRT)

Delivery of radiation to a target volume using an external source such as a linear accelerator or cyclotron.

Fine needle aspiration (FNA)

Cell collection via thin needle; quick with minimal healing time but risks tumor seeding and lacks cell architecture.

Gene expression modulators

Targeted agents that influence gene activity by turning specific genes on or off.

Holistic patient care

Treatment approach addressing physical, psychological, social, and emotional needs of a patient.

Hormonal agents

Chemotherapeutic/targeted drugs that eliminate, block, or displace natural body hormones that fuel tumor growth.

Image guided radiation therapy (IGRT)

Pre-treatment imaging (e.g., CBCT, EPID) comparing setup marks and internal anatomy against the treatment plan.

Immunotherapy

Cancer therapy designed to amplify or restore the body's own immune system to target and destroy cancer cells.

Incisional biopsy

Surgical removal of only a representative sample portion of a tumor mass for diagnostic analysis.

Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)

Advanced radiation delivery using non-uniform beam exposures across fields to precisely shape target dose.

Interferon

Naturally occurring body proteins capable of killing or slowing the growth of malignant cells.

Interstitial brachytherapy

Direct placement of radioactive sources into tumor tissue using seeds, needles, or wires.

Intracavitary brachytherapy

Placement of radioactive sources within a body cavity (e.g., uterus), often performed during surgery.

Intraluminal brachytherapy

Placement of radioactive sources within hollow body tubes, such as the esophagus or airway.

Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT)

High dose of radiation delivered directly to an exposed tumor or resection bed during surgery.

Intrathecal injection

Administration of medication directly into the vertebral space containing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Linear accelerator (Linac)

Medical equipment using accelerated electrons to produce high-energy X-rays or electron beams for EBRT.

Medical dosimetrist

Radiation therapy team member responsible for designing treatment plans and technical quality assurance.

Medical oncologist

Physician specializing in systemic cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, targeted agents, and immunotherapy.

Medical physicist

Professional overseeing radiation safety, beam calibration, physics procedures, and treatment planning accuracy.

Monoclonal antibodies

Lab-engineered proteins designed to mimic natural antibodies and target specific cancer antigens.

Multicentric tumors

Malignant growths arising from multiple distinct origin sites; associated with poorer prognosis and treatment complexity.

Multidisciplinary team (MDT)

Collaborative group of healthcare specialists working together to provide coordinated, patient-centric cancer care.

Neoadjuvant therapy

Systemic or local treatment given prior to the primary therapy (e.g., chemo before surgery) to shrink tumors.

Nitrosoureas

Lipid-soluble chemotherapeutic agents capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier to treat brain tumors.

Oral chemotherapy

Systemic administration of cancer medications by mouth, requiring strict patient adherence.

Palliation

Non-curative medical care focused on relieving symptoms, pain, and suffering to improve quality of life.

Plaque brachytherapy

Application of radioactive seeds mounted on a small carrier plate directly onto a target area.

Port-a-cath

Subcutaneously implanted central venous access device allowing long-term, safe administration of IV therapy.

Prognosis

An estimation of life expectancy, probable disease course, and likelihood of recovery.

Prospective study

A study planned in advance where a specific patient cohort is tracked forward over time to evaluate outcomes.

Proton treatment

Particle radiation therapy using high-energy protons that deliver dose to a specific depth with minimal exit dose.

Radiation oncologist

Physician who evaluates cancer patients, prescribes radiation regimens, and oversees the treatment process.

Radiation therapist

Healthcare practitioner who performs patient simulation, delivers daily radiation, and monitors treatment tolerance.

Radioprotectors

Chemicals or drugs administered to diminish radiation sensitivity and damage in surrounding healthy normal cells.

Radiosensitizers

Chemicals or drugs that increase the sensitivity of tumor cells to the lethal damaging effects of radiation.

Randomization

Method of randomly assigning clinical trial participants to treatment arms to prevent selection bias.

Relative survival

Survival metric comparing patient cohort survival against expected survival in a demographically matched general population.

Restaging

Re-evaluating and re-classifying disease extent following cancer recurrence after prior therapy.

Retrospective study

A research study reviewing historical medical records and past outcomes of previously treated patients.

SABR / SBRT

Stereotactic Ablative / Body Radiotherapy; delivery of a few very high doses of radiation to small, well-defined tumors.

Sentinel node

The primary, first-draining lymph node for a specific anatomic site (e.g., axillary node for breast cancer).

Signal transduction inhibitors

Targeted therapies that block crucial molecular signaling pathways responsible for cancer cell division.

Simulation

Treatment planning procedure using imaging to define radiation fields and craft patient immobilization devices.

Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS)

Precision delivery of high-dose photon beams converging from multiple entry angles onto target intracranial volumes.

Surgical oncologist

Surgeon specializing in biopsy, resection, staging, and surgical management of cancer and associated symptoms.

Targeted therapies

Medications engineered to interfere with specific molecular targets involved in cancer growth and survival.

Tumor board

Multidisciplinary panel of cancer specialists who review cases and establish coordinated treatment plans.

Vinca alkaloids

Plant-derived cytotoxic drugs that halt cellular division during metaphase by disrupting spindle fibers.

Vesicant

Chemotherapeutic agents that cause severe tissue damage, ulceration, and tissue necrosis if extravasated.

X-rays vs. Gamma rays

X-rays are produced via electron-target collisions; Gamma rays originate from natural radioactive nuclear decay.