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Important Safety Information

Glossary

• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X
• Y
• Z

A

Adverse event:

An undesired effect caused by a drug. Also called an adverse reaction.

Aggressive:

A type of cancer that grows fast. Also called high-grade.

Anthracycline:

A type of chemotherapy drug used to treat many types of cancer. Anthracyclines destroy cancer cells by damaging their DNA.

Antibody:

A protein that is present in the blood, made by cells of the immune system to fight infection. Some antibodies are a normal part of the body's immune defense and others are made in response to a foreign substance. Scientists can make antibodies that target specific types of cells in the body.

B

B-cell:

A type of white blood cell (or lymphocyte) that helps the body fight infection. B-cells are a type of immune cell.

Bone marrow:

The soft, spongy material that fills the inside of the bones. Bone marrow is the source of new blood cells.

C

Catheter:

A thin, flexible tube that allows fluids to enter or leave the body.

CD20:

A protein marker found on the surface of almost all B-cells. B-cells are said to be CD20-positive if they have the CD20 marker.

Cell:

The basic unit that makes up living things. Some cells, such as B-cells, function on their own. Other cells are part of the structure of body parts and organs.

Cell nucleus:

The control center of the cell that is the location for genes.

Chemotherapy:

A drug treatment that kills cancer cells.

CHOP chemotherapy:

A type of combination chemotherapy regimen that consists of the following drugs: cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone.

CT scan:

Computed tomography scan. A medical test that uses a computer linked to an X-ray machine to take pictures of the inside of the body.

CVP chemotherapy:

A type of combination chemotherapy regimen that consists of the following drugs: cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone or prednisolone.

Cytokine:

A substance made by cells of the body’s immune system. Some cytokines can affect the immune response.

D

DLBCL (diffuse large B-cell lymphoma):

The most common type of aggressive lymphoma. More than 3 out of 10 patients with NHL have DLBCL.

DNA:

The building blocks of the genetic code, which is located in the nucleus of the cell. DNA is short for deoxyribonucleic acid.

E

Extranodal lymphoma:

A lymphoma tumor located in patches of lymphatic tissue in an organ (such as the stomach, intestines, brain, thyroid gland, testis, urinary tract, skin, bone, or lung) instead of a lymph node.

F

First-line treatment:

The first type of treatment given for a condition or disease. Also called initial treatment.

Follicular:

Having cells that grow in circular groups, or follicles.

I

Immune cells:

Cells that defend the body from infection. These cells are part of the immune system.

Immune system:

The group of organs and cells that defends the body from infection.

Immunotherapy:

A treatment (such as monoclonal antibodies) that uses your body’s immune system to help fight cancer. See also monoclonal antibodies.

Indolent:

A type of cancer that grows slowly. Also called low-grade.

Infection:

A condition in which the body or a part of it is invaded by a virus, bacteria, or fungus.

Inflammation:

The reaction of body tissues to injury. Inflammation is characterized by pain, heat, redness, swelling, and loss of function.

Infusion:

The placement of a fluid into a vein. The fluid is injected through a catheter, a long narrow tube that has been inserted into a vein, and is pumped in or allowed to flow in by gravity.

Initial treatment:

The first type of treatment given for a condition or disease. Also called first-line treatment.

Intravenous injection:

The placement of a fluid into a vein through a syringe or catheter (a long narrow tube that has been inserted into the vein to allow intravenous injections).

L

Low-grade:

A type of cancer that grows slowly. Also called indolent.

Lymph:

The clear fluid that flows through the lymphatic system carrying cells that help fight infection.

Lymph node:

A small, bean-shaped organ that stores white blood cells and helps remove cell waste, germs, and other harmful substances from the body.

Lymphocytes:

A type of white blood cell that has an important role in fighting infection.

Lymphopenia:

Having a low level of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. Certain cancer treatments may cause lymphopenia.

M

Metabolism:

The sum of the physical and chemical changes that take place within an organism. Metabolism includes all of the changes in energy and material that occur within living cells.

Monoclonal antibodies:

A type of targeted therapy used to find and destroy specific cells within the body (for example, the B-cells where most NHL starts). This is a type of immunotherapy.

MRI scan:

Magnetic resonance imaging scan. A medical test that uses magnetic waves to create pictures of areas inside the body.

N

Natural killer cells:

A type of immune cell. Natural killer cells help the body fight infection.

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL):

A group of cancers that start in immune cells and can form tumors in the lymphatic system.

O

Oncologist:

A doctor who specializes in treating cancer.

Ongoing Therapy:

RITUXAN® Ongoing Therapy is given after initial CVP chemotherapy for up to 2 years.

Outpatient clinic:

A place where patients can receive medical treatments outside of the hospital.

P

PET scan:

Positron emission tomography scan. A medical test that uses a small amount of radioactive molecules to create pictures of the inside of the body. These pictures can be used to help find cancer cells.

Progression-free survival (PFS):

One way to measure if a treatment is effective in a clinical trial. It refers to the length of time that a patient's disease does not get worse.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML):

PML is a rare brain infection. PML usually causes death or severe disability.

Protein:

Molecules that form the building blocks of the body. Antibodies, which help the body fight infection, are a type of protein.

R

Radiation therapy:

A treatment that kills cancer cells by exposing them to X-rays. The X-rays may come from a machine outside the body that is directed to a specific part of the body (external radiation). Radiation kills cells with which it comes in contact: cancer cells as well as normal cells.

R-CHOP:

The abbreviation for the combination of RITUXAN plus CHOP chemotherapy. See CHOP chemotherapy.

Refractory:

A term used to describe disease that does not respond to a specific type of treatment.

Relapsed:

A term used to describe the return of disease after it has been treated successfully.

Response:

A measurable improvement in a condition as a result of treatment.

RITUXAN® (Rituximab):

A drug that targets a marker (called CD20) on most B-cells, the cells most often involved in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

S

Saline:

A liquid that contains salt. It may be given to a patient intravenously (IV). That means it is given through a needle placed in a vein.

Side effect:

An effect of a drug that is not wanted.

Stable disease (SD):

When cancer is neither getting better nor worse.

Steroid:

A type of drug given to treat severe inflammation. A steroid such as prednisone may be part of a chemotherapy treatment for cancer.

T

Targeted therapy:

A type of treatment that attacks specific cancer cells.

T-cell:

Similar to B-cells, a type of white blood cell that helps the body fight infection. T-cells are a type of immune cell.

Tumor:

An abnormal mass of tissue that forms when cells divide more than they should or do not die when they should. Tumors may be cancerous (malignant) or not cancerous (benign).

Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS):

TLS is caused by the fast breakdown of certain types of cancer cells. TLS can cause kidney failure and the need for dialysis treatment.

X

X-rays:

A type of high-energy radiation. In low doses, X-rays are used to take pictures of the inside of the body.