Bone Glossary: Bone Pain, Bone Metastases (Mets), Multiple Myeloma

Glossary

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Adenocarcinoma
A localized growth of glandular tissue that is malignant. It is most common in the endometrium and large intestine.

Adjuvant
Treatment used to enhance or support the effects of the primary treatment (eg, chemotherapy) following surgery for breast cancer. See neoadjuvant.

Analogue
A chemical compound related in structure to another compound.

Apoptosis
A normal series of events in a cell that lead to its death.

Azotemia
An excess of nitrogen-containing compounds in the blood (eg, creatinine) suggesting inadequate kidney function.

Bisphosphonates
A class of medicines that can alter the process of bone remodeling, restoring the balance to the bone.

Bone metastases
Sometimes referred as "bone mets." Areas of tumor in bone that result from the spread of cancer from another site in the body.

Calcitonin
A peptide hormone produced by the parathyroid, thyroid, and thymus glands that increases deposition of calcium and phosphate in bone and lowers blood calcium levels.

Canaliculi
Small channels found throughout bone tissue.

Cell morphology
The physical shape and size of the cell.

Chemotherapy
The use of anticancer drugs either injected by vein or given by mouth to inhibit tumor growth or destroy cancer cells.

Creatinine
A nitrogenous substance formed from creatine and found especially in muscle, blood, and urine. Creatinine levels in the bloodstream can be used as a measurement of kidney function.

Cyto-, -cyte [Gr. kytos, "a cavity"]
A prefix or suffix meaning "a cell."

Cytokine
Hormone-like proteins, secreted by many different types of cells, that regulate immune responses and are involved in cell-to-cell communication (eg, interferon and interleukin).

Cytotoxic
Toxic or injurious to cells.

Cytotoxicity
The degree to which anticancer or other agents kill cells.

Cytotoxin
A substance toxic to cells; especially, one used to kill or suppress cancer cells.

Haversian canal
One of the tiny canals in bone tissue.

Hematocrit
Percentage of the volume of a whole blood sample occupied by red cells.

Hemoglobin
The iron-containing, protein component of red blood cells that transports oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Hydroxyapatite
A chemical found in bones and teeth that gives them rigidity.

Hypercalcemia of malignancy
An excess of calcium in the blood; can be caused by cancerous destruction of bone tissue.

Hypocalcemia
A deficiency of calcium in the blood.

Hypomagnesemia
A deficiency of magnesium in the blood (sometimes a side effect of cisplatin).

Ionizing radiation
Radiation with enough energy to knock electrons out of atoms and produce ions. Includes alpha and beta particles, x-rays, and gamma rays. Can produce cellular damage by striking molecules (such as DNA) or through the production of free radicals, which attack other vital molecules.

Isotope
One of two or more forms of an atom with a different number of neutrons than other forms of the same atom. Isotopes have the same number of protons and electrons and the same chemical properties, however the different number of neutrons leads to different radioactive properties. Isotopes are used in a number of medical tests.

Macrophage
Any phagocyte cell of the reticuloendothelial system.

Multiple myeloma
Cancer resulting from abnormal plasma cells multiplying and occupying space in the bone marrow. Bone marrow is the inner, spongy tissue of large bones where red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets are made.

Neoadjuvant
Therapy, such as chemotherapy, given prior to that therapy (such as surgery) with the intent of supporting the benefits of the second therapy.

Nephropathy
A general term indicating any disease of the kidney (renal disease).

Nephrotoxicity
Toxic to the kidneys.

NSCLC
Acronym, non-small cell lung cancer. Varieties include epidermoid (squamous cell) carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma.

N-telopeptide
A molecule composed of 2 or more amino acids joined by peptide bonds.

Osteoblast
A bone-forming cell that is derived from mesenchyme (fibroblast) and forms an osseous matrix in which it becomes enclosed as an osteocyte. Synonym, osteoplast.

Osteoblastic
Relating to the osteoblasts; describes a region of increased radiographic bone density, in particular metastases that simulate osteoblastic activity.

Osteocalcin
A small, 20+ amino acid protein normally found in bone and dentin, which is secreted by osteoblasts. Elevated levels of serum osteocalcin indicate increased bone formation.

Osteoclast
A large, multinucleated cell of monocytic origin, with abundant acidophilic cytoplasm, that absorbs and removes osseous tissue. Synonym, osteophage.

Osteocyte
Bone cell.

Osteolytic
Causing the breakdown of bone. Noun, osteolysis.

Palliative treatment
Treatment providing relief (eg, from pain), but not cure.

Parathyroid hormone
Also known as PTH or parathormone; a peptide formed by the parathyroid glands, located beneath the thyroid in the neck, that elevates serum calcium levels by increasing calcium absorption from the GI tract, increasing calcium resorption from the kidneys, and increasing bone resorption by osteoclasts.

Parathyroid hormone related protein (or peptide)
Also known as PTHrP; a 144-amino acid protein that contains amino acid sequences similar to PTH. It is released in small amounts by many normal body tissues and in large amounts by certain malignancies. Excessive release of PTHrP by malignancies can stimulate osteoclastic activity, leading to bone destruction and hypercalcemia.

Paresthesia
Any subjective sensation experienced as numbness, tingling, or a "pins and needles" feeling.

Pathologic fracture
A broken bone caused by disease, often by metastases to the bone which results in its weakening.

Peptide
Any compound consisting of two or more amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. Peptides are combined to make proteins.

Phosphate
A salt or ester of phosphoric acid (contains the PO4 group).

Placebo
An inert compound given as a medicine for its suggestive effect; an inert compound used in clinical trials to distinguish between the active effects of the study compound and the suggestive effects of the material under study.

Plasma
The fluid part of blood and lymph in which cells are suspended; includes the factors essential for blood clotting.

Plasma cell
A type of white blood cell that plays a role in fighting infection. Plasma cells normally make up a small percentage of the cells in bone marrow. When abnormal plasma cells multiply and become more plentiful in the bone marrow, the resultant cancer is called multiple myeloma.

Prostate-specific antigen
Also called PSA; a single-chain, 31-kilodalton glycoprotein found in normal seminal fluid and produced by prostatic epithelial cells. Elevated blood levels of PSA occur in diseases associated with prostatic cell growth, including benign prostatic hypertrophy and malignancy.

PTH
See parathyroid hormone.

PTHrP
See parathyroid hormone releasing protein.

Pyrexia
Fever.

Rad (RAD)
Acronym, radiation absorbed dose. A unit for measuring the absorption of ionizing radiation.

Radiation therapy
The treatment of disease with varying types of ionizing radiation. The two major types of radiation therapy are external beam therapy (teletherapy), which uses radiation-emitting instruments, and internal radiation therapy (brachytherapy), which involves the implantation of radiation sources directly in, or near, cancerous growths. Also called radiotherapy.

Radionuclide scanning
A test that produces pictures (scans) of internal parts of the body. The patient is given an injection or swallows a small amount of radioactive material. A scanner then measures the radioactivity in certain organs.

Radiotherapy
See radiation therapy.

Scans
Pictures of structures inside the body. Often used in diagnosing, staging, and monitoring. Examples include liver scans, bone scans, computed tomography (CT) or computed axial tomography (CAT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In liver and bone scanning, radioactive substances that are injected into the bloodstream collect in these organs and are detected by a scanner, which creates images of internal structures. In CT scanning, an x-ray machine is used to produce detailed pictures of organs inside the body, whereas MRI scans use a large magnet to create images of internal organs.

SCLC
See small cell lung cancer.

Small cell lung cancer (acronym SCLC)
Once the most lethal form of lung cancer; now managed primarily with chemotherapeutic drugs, such as Cytoxan^®, Cisplatin, VP-16 (etoposide), and doxorubicin. Also known as "oat cell carcinoma."

Spinal column
The series of bones (vertebrae) in the back that are the axis of the skeleton and enclose the spinal cord.

Spinal cord
The long tube-like cord of nerves that exits from the brain and descends through the spinal column. It carries sensory and motor information between the brain and the rest of the body.

Spinal cord compression
Pressure on the spinal cord resulting from factors external to the cord itself. It can result from bony metastases to the spinal column that encases the cord or from infections in the space between the cord and the spinal column.

Tumor necrosis factor(s)
A large family of functionally diverse cytokines that regulate proliferation, survival, and secretory functions in different cell types. TNF-a is a mediator in fever and shock. It activates macrophages and stimulates PMN chemotoxin, angiogenesis, and bone resorption. It is cytotoxic to many cells. TNF-a activates endothelial cells, granulocytes, and B cells.

Vitamin D
A generic term for all steroids exhibiting the biological activity of ergocalciferol (vitamin D₂) or cholecalciferol (vitamin D₃). They promote the proper utilization of calcium and phosphorous. Since these compounds are synthesized in human tissues, they are more properly referred to as hormones rather than vitamins.

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