Cancer Treatments and Immunotherapy

These flashcards cover key concepts related to cancer treatments, the immune system's role, and genetic diseases.

Surgery

A medical procedure to remove a tumor, effective if the tumor is accessible, but may injure surrounding cells.

Chemotherapy

The injection of toxic drugs targeting dividing cells, causing side effects like hair loss and dry skin.

Radiation Therapy

A treatment using high-energy rays to target and destroy cancers in a localized area.

Immunotherapy

A treatment that uses the body's immune system to target and destroy cancer cells.

Germline Cells

Cells such as sperm and eggs that can pass genetic mutations to offspring.

Gene Expression

The process of how genes are turned on or off to produce specific proteins.

Monoclonal Antibodies

Antibodies engineered to bind specific cancer cell targets, aiding immune response.

CRISPR

A genome editing tool used to make precise changes to DNA within living cells.

T Cells

A type of white blood cell that plays a central role in the immune response against cancer.

Cancer Vaccine

A vaccine designed to elicit an immune response targeting cancer cells.

Sickle Cell Disease

A genetic disorder caused by a mutation affecting hemoglobin, leading to abnormal red blood cells.

mRNA Vaccines

Vaccines that use messenger RNA to instruct cells to produce a protein that triggers an immune response.

Targeted Therapy

Treatments that specifically target and inhibit cancer cells without affecting other cells.

Antigen

A substance that induces an immune response, particularly the production of antibodies.

Mutation

A change in the DNA sequence that can lead to genetic disorders.