Treatments & Therapies

Terms in this category

• Active SurveillanceActive surveillance is a planned strategy of closely monitoring a disease or suspicious finding with regular …
• Adjuvant TherapyAdjuvant therapy is treatment given after the primary treatment, usually surgery, to destroy any cancer cells…
• AntifolateAntifolates are a class of chemotherapy drugs that block the body's ability to use folate (vitamin B9), a nut…
• Atezolizumab (Tecentriq)Atezolizumab, sold as Tecentriq, is an immunotherapy drug that blocks PD-L1. It is approved for several cance…
• BevacizumabBevacizumab is a laboratory-made antibody (a targeted drug) that blocks a protein called VEGF, which tumors u…
• Bowel ResectionBowel resection is a surgical procedure in which a diseased or damaged segment of the small or large intestin…
• BrachytherapyBrachytherapy is a form of radiation treatment in which small radioactive sources are placed directly inside …
• CapecitabineCapecitabine is an oral chemotherapy pill that the body converts into 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a drug that inte…
• CAR-T CellCAR-T (chimeric antigen receptor T-cell) therapy is a form of immunotherapy in which a patient's own T cells …
• CarboplatinCarboplatin is a platinum-based chemotherapy drug used to treat several cancers linked to asbestos exposure, …
• Cetuximab (Erbitux)Cetuximab is a targeted cancer therapy given by IV infusion that blocks the epidermal growth factor receptor …
• cGycGy stands for centigray, a unit used to measure the dose of radiation absorbed by body tissue during radioth…
• checkpoint inhibitorsCheckpoint inhibitors are immunotherapy drugs that release the natural "brakes" on the immune system so it ca…
• ChemotherapyChemotherapy is treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells or stop them from dividing, usually given through…
• CisplatinCisplatin is a platinum-based chemotherapy drug that damages cancer cells' DNA so they cannot divide. For mes…
• Clinical TrialA clinical trial is a research study that tests a new treatment, or a new use of an existing one, in voluntee…
• CRS-207CRS-207 is an experimental cancer vaccine made from a weakened Listeria monocytogenes bacterium engineered to…
• Cytoreductive SurgeryCytoreductive surgery (often called "debulking") is an operation that removes as much visible tumor as possib…
• DecorticateTo surgically peel away a thickened, fibrous rind that has formed around an organ, most often the lung. In as…
• Diaphragmatic ResectionDiaphragmatic resection is a surgical procedure in which part or all of the diaphragm, the dome-shaped breath…
• DoxorubicinDoxorubicin is an intravenous chemotherapy drug in the anthracycline family that damages cancer cell DNA and …
• Dual Checkpoint Inhibitor TherapyDual checkpoint inhibitor therapy is a cancer treatment that combines two immunotherapy drugs to help the imm…
• Durvalumab (Imfinzi)Durvalumab, sold as Imfinzi, is an immunotherapy drug that blocks PD-L1, a protein tumors use to switch off t…
• Extrapleural Pneumonectomy (EPP)Extrapleural pneumonectomy is a major surgery used to treat pleural mesothelioma in which the surgeon removes…
• EZH2 InhibitorAn EZH2 inhibitor is a targeted cancer drug that blocks an enzyme tumor cells use to silence genes that would…
• First-line TherapyFirst-line therapy is the initial, preferred treatment a doctor recommends for a newly diagnosed disease base…
• Fluorouracil (5-FU)Fluorouracil, known as 5-FU, is a chemotherapy drug that interferes with cancer cells' ability to make DNA an…
• FOLFIRI (5-FU, Leucovorin, and Irinotecan)FOLFIRI is a combination chemotherapy regimen built from three drugs: 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), leucovorin (foli…
• FOLFOXFOLFOX is a combination chemotherapy regimen built from three drugs: folinic acid (leucovorin), 5-fluorouraci…
• Galinpepimut-S (WT1)Galinpepimut-S is an investigational cancer vaccine that trains the immune system to recognize and attack cel…
• GemcitabineGemcitabine is an intravenous chemotherapy drug that interferes with cancer cells' ability to copy their DNA,…
• Goals of CareGoals of care are the personal priorities, values, and treatment preferences that guide medical decisions dur…
• HemiscrotectomyHemiscrotectomy is the surgical removal of one half of the scrotum, typically performed along with removal of…
• High-Volume CenterA high-volume center is a hospital or cancer program that treats a large number of patients with a specific d…
• HIPECHIPEC stands for Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy. It is a procedure in which heated chemotherapy dr…
• Histology-AgnosticHistology-agnostic refers to medical decisions, drug approvals, or treatment approaches that are based on a t…
• HospiceHospice is a type of specialized care focused on comfort, dignity, and quality of life for people with a term…
• HydrocelectomyHydrocelectomy is a surgical procedure to remove or drain a hydrocele, a collection of fluid that builds up a…
• Immune-Related Adverse EventsImmune-related adverse events are side effects caused when immunotherapy drugs, such as nivolumab and ipilimu…
• ImmunotherapyImmunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps the body's own immune system find and attack cancer ce…
• Indwelling Pleural CatheterAn indwelling pleural catheter (IPC) is a thin, flexible tube placed through the chest wall so fluid around t…
• Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is a form of external-beam radiation in which computer-controlle…
• Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT)Intraoperative radiation therapy is a single, concentrated dose of radiation delivered directly to a tumor be…
• Intraperitoneal Maintenance TherapyIntraperitoneal maintenance therapy is the ongoing delivery of chemotherapy directly into the abdominal cavit…
• Ipilimumab (Yervoy)Ipilimumab is an immunotherapy drug that helps the immune system attack cancer by blocking a protein on T cel…
• Lung TransplantA lung transplant replaces one or both diseased lungs with donor lungs. It is a last-resort treatment for end…
• MAT2A InhibitorA MAT2A inhibitor is a type of targeted cancer drug that blocks the enzyme methionine adenosyltransferase 2A …
• Mesothelin-Targeted TherapyMesothelin-targeted therapy is a class of experimental cancer treatments that attack tumor cells displaying a…
• Mesothelioma SpecialistA mesothelioma specialist is a doctor with specific expertise in diagnosing and treating mesothelioma, a rare…
• Mitomycin CMitomycin C is a chemotherapy drug, originally derived from a soil bacterium, that damages cancer cells' DNA …
• Monoclonal AntibodyA monoclonal antibody is a lab-made protein engineered to recognize and bind to one specific target, usually …
• Multidisciplinary TeamA multidisciplinary team (MDT) is a group of medical specialists from different fields who meet together to r…
• Multimodal TherapyMultimodal therapy is a coordinated treatment approach that combines two or more types of cancer treatment (t…
• Needle BiopsyA needle biopsy is a minimally invasive procedure in which a doctor uses a thin, hollow needle to remove a sm…
• Neoadjuvant ChemotherapyNeoadjuvant chemotherapy is chemotherapy given before the main treatment, usually surgery, rather than after …
• Neoadjuvant TherapyNeoadjuvant therapy is treatment given before the main intervention, usually surgery, to shrink a tumor, lowe…
• Nivolumab (Opdivo)Nivolumab, sold under the brand name Opdivo, is an immunotherapy drug called a checkpoint inhibitor. It block…
• Nucleoside Analog DrugA nucleoside analog is a medication built to look almost identical to one of the natural building blocks of D…
• OrchiectomyOrchiectomy is the surgical removal of one or both testicles along with the surrounding tissue layers (the tu…
• Palliative CarePalliative care is specialized medical care focused on relieving the symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious …
• Pegargiminase (ADI-PEG20)Pegargiminase (ADI-PEG 20) is an investigational enzyme therapy that depletes the amino acid arginine from th…
• Pembrolizumab (Keytruda)Pembrolizumab is an immunotherapy drug given by IV infusion that helps the immune system recognize and attack…
• Pemetrexed (Alimta)Pemetrexed is a chemotherapy drug that blocks several enzymes cancer cells need to make DNA, slowing or stopp…
• Perfusion EquipmentPerfusion equipment is a set of medical machines and tubing used to circulate heated chemotherapy or other tr…
• PericardiectomyPericardiectomy is open-heart surgery to remove part or all of the pericardium, the tough sac surrounding the…
• PericardiocentesisPericardiocentesis is a procedure in which a doctor uses a thin needle, often followed by a small catheter, t…
• Peritoneal Surface OncologyPeritoneal surface oncology is a specialized field of cancer medicine focused on tumors that grow on the peri…
• Platinum-PemetrexedPlatinum-pemetrexed is a two-drug chemotherapy combination, a platinum-based drug (usually cisplatin or carbo…
• Pleurectomy/Decortication (P/D)Pleurectomy/Decortication is a lung-sparing surgery for pleural mesothelioma in which the surgeon removes the…
• PleurodesisPleurodesis is a procedure that seals the space between the lung and the chest wall to stop fluid from buildi…
• PneumonectomyPneumonectomy is the surgical removal of an entire lung. It is performed for cancers that cannot be treated b…
• Prophylactic Tract IrradiationProphylactic tract irradiation is a short course of radiation given to the skin and chest wall where a needle…
• Proton TherapyProton therapy is radiation treatment that uses beams of protons instead of X-rays. Protons release most of t…
• Pulmonary RehabilitationPulmonary rehabilitation is a structured, medically supervised program that combines supervised exercise, bre…
• Radical Inguinal OrchiectomyA radical inguinal orchiectomy is a surgery that removes a testicle and the entire spermatic cord through an …
• RaltitrexedRaltitrexed is a chemotherapy drug that blocks an enzyme called thymidylate synthase, which cancer cells need…
• RamucirumabRamucirumab, sold as Cyramza, is an antibody drug that blocks VEGFR-2, a receptor tumors use to grow new bloo…
• Regorafenib (Stivarga)Regorafenib, sold as Stivarga, is an oral targeted cancer drug known as a multikinase inhibitor. It blocks se…
• Respite CareRespite care is short-term, temporary relief for the family members and friends who provide day-to-day care t…
• Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection (RPLND)Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection is a surgical procedure to remove lymph nodes located behind the abdomi…
• Second-Line TherapySecond-line therapy is the treatment given when the first treatment, called first-line therapy, stops working…
• Sorafenib (Nexavar)Sorafenib, sold under the brand name Nexavar, is an oral targeted therapy known as a multi-kinase inhibitor. …
• Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) delivers a very high, precisely aimed dose of radiation to a small…
• Sugarbaker ProcedureThe Sugarbaker Procedure is an aggressive multi-step surgery for pleural mesothelioma, most commonly referrin…
• Sunitinib (Sutent)Sunitinib is an oral targeted cancer drug known as a multi-kinase inhibitor. It blocks several proteins (incl…
• Supplemental OxygenSupplemental oxygen is extra oxygen breathed through nasal tubing or a mask, from a concentrator or tank, whe…
• Surgical CandidacySurgical candidacy is the medical determination of whether a patient is healthy enough, and whether their dis…
• Surgical ResectionSurgical resection is the removal of diseased tissue, a tumor, or an affected organ through an operation. In …
• Systemic TherapySystemic therapy refers to any cancer treatment that travels through the bloodstream to reach cells throughou…
• Talc PleurodesisTalc pleurodesis is a medical procedure used to prevent fluid from repeatedly building up in the space betwee…
• Targeted TherapyTargeted therapy is cancer treatment that acts on specific molecules or genetic changes that help a tumor gro…
• ThoracentesisThoracentesis is a bedside or outpatient procedure in which a doctor inserts a thin needle through the chest …
• Thoracic SpecialistA thoracic specialist is a physician with advanced training in diseases of the chest, including the lungs, pl…
• Thoracic SurgeryThoracic surgery is the surgical specialty that operates on organs and structures inside the chest, including…
• Thoracoscopic BiopsyA thoracoscopic biopsy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which a thin camera is inserted through …
• ThoracotomyA major surgery in which the surgeon makes an incision through the chest wall, usually between the ribs, to r…
• Trans-scrotal ApproachThe trans-scrotal approach is a surgical technique in which a testicular or paratesticular mass is removed th…
• TrastuzumabTrastuzumab is a monoclonal antibody drug (brand name Herceptin) that targets cells overexpressing the HER2 p…
• TremelimumabTremelimumab is an immunotherapy drug that blocks CTLA-4, a brake on the immune system's T cells, in the same…
• Trimodality TherapyTrimodality therapy is a treatment approach for mesothelioma that combines three types of treatment: surgery,…
• Tumor BoardA tumor board is a regular meeting of cancer specialists from different fields (including surgeons, medical o…
• Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields)Tumor Treating Fields is a non-invasive cancer therapy that delivers low-intensity, alternating electric fiel…
• Tyrosine Kinase InhibitorA tyrosine kinase inhibitor, or TKI, is a type of targeted cancer drug that blocks specific enzymes (tyrosine…
• VEGF inhibitorsVEGF inhibitors are drugs that block vascular endothelial growth factor, a signaling protein tumors use to gr…
• VinorelbineVinorelbine is a chemotherapy drug given by IV infusion or as an oral capsule, used to treat non-small cell l…
• Watchful WaitingWatchful waiting is a medical management approach in which a doctor monitors a patient's condition with regul…