| tumor | 1. <oncology> An abnormal mass of tissue that results from excessive cell division that is uncontrolled and progressive, also called a neoplasm. Tumours perform no useful body function. They may be either benign (not cancerous) or malignant. 2. Swelling, one of the cardinal signs of inflammations, morbid enlargement. Origin: L. Tumere = to swell (12 May 1997) |
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| tumor marker | <investigation, oncology> A substance in the body that usually indicates the presence of cancer. These markers are usually specific to certain types of cancer and are usually found in the blood or other tissue samples. Examples are alphafetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). They may be indicators of tumour stage and grade as well as useful for monitoring responses to treatment and predicting recurrence. Many chemical groups are represented including hormones, antigens, amino and nucleic acids, enzymes, polyamines, and specific cell membrane proteins and lipids. (18 Jul 2002) |
| tumor necrosis factor | <cytokine> Originally described as a tumour inhibiting factor in the blood of animals exposed to bacterial lipopolysaccharide or Bacille Calmette-Guerin. Preferentially kills tumour cells in vivo and in vitro, causes necrosis of certain transplanted tumours in mice and inhibits experimental metastases. Human Tumour Necrosis factor alpha is a protein of 157 amino acids and has a wide range of pro inflammatory actions. Usually considered a cytokine. Synonym: cachectin. Acronym: TNF (13 Nov 1997) |
| innocent | 1. An innocent person; one free from, or unacquainted with, guilt or sin. 2. An unsophisticated person; hence, a child; a simpleton; an idiot. "In Scotland a natural fool was called an innocent." (Sir W. Scott) Innocents' day, Childermas day. 1. Not harmful; free from that which can injure; innoxious; innocuous; harmless; as, an innocent medicine or remedy. "The spear Sung innocent,and spent its force in air." (Pope) 2. Morally free from guilt; guiltless; not tainted with sin; pure; upright. "To offer up a weak, poor, innocent lamb." (Shak) "I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood." (Matt. Xxvii. 4) "The aidless,innocent lady, his wished prey." (Milton) 3. Free from the guilt of a particular crime or offense; as, a man is innocent of the crime charged. "Innocent from the great transgression." (Ps. Xix. 13) 4. Simple; artless; foolish. 5. Lawful; permitted; as, an innocent trade. 6. Not contraband; not subject to forfeiture; as, innocent goods carried to a belligerent nation. Innocent party,a party who has not notice of a fact tainting a litigated transaction with illegality. Synonym: Harmless, innoxious, innoffensive, guiltless, spotless, immaculate, pure, unblamable, blameless, faultless, guileless, upright. Origin: F.innocent, L. Innocens, -entis; pref. In- not + nocens, p.pr. Of nocere to harm, hurt. See Noxious. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| innocent bystander cell | The destruction of a cell by an immune process even though that cell was not directly targeted. (05 Mar 2000) |
| innocent murmur | A cardiac murmur not associated with a significant heart lesion. Synonym: innocent murmur, inorganic murmur. (05 Mar 2000) |
| innocent tumour | <oncology> A nonmalignant clone of neoplastic cells that does not invade locally or spread to other parts of the body (metastasise), having lost growth control but not positional control. Usually surrounded by a fibrous capsule of compressed tissue. (29 Sep 1997) |