| tumour angiogenic factor | A substance released by solid tumours which induces formation of new blood vessels to supply the tumour. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| tumour antigens | Antigens that may be frequently associated with tumours or may be specifically found on tumour cells of the same origin (tumour specific), tumour antigens may also be associated with replication and transformation by certain DNA tumour viruses, including adenoviruses and papovaviruses. Synonym: neoantigens. See: T antigens. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tumour-associated antigen | Antigens that are highly correlated with certain tumour cells. They are not usually found, or are found to a lesser extent, on normal cells. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tumour burden | <oncology> The size of the tumour or number of abnormal cells in the organ or tissue. (16 Dec 1997) |
| tumour cell | <oncology> Cell derived from a tumour in an animal. Refers to a tumour causing malignant cell and not an adventitious normal cell. Loosely, a transformed cell able to give rise to tumours. (18 Nov 1997) |
| tumour cells, cultured | Cells grown in vitro from neoplastic tissue for use in studying the proliferative and metabolic capacities of tumour cells, in predicting clinical responses to chemotherapy, in screening new antitumour agents, and in basic biological research. They include carcinoma cell lines. (12 Dec 1998) |
| tumour debulking | Surgically removing as much of the tumour as possible. (12 Dec 1998) |
| tumour embolism | Embolism by neoplastic tissue transported from a tumour site and which may grow as a metastasis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tumour escape | The ability of tumours to evade destruction by the immune system. Theories concerning possible mechanisms by which this takes place involve both cellular and humoral immunity, and also costimulatory pathways related to CD28 antigens and CD80 antigens. (12 Dec 1998) |
| tumour-infiltrating lymphocyte | <haematology, oncology> Special cancer-fighting cells of the immune system found in tumours. In a type of experimental therapy, scientists harvest these cells from the tumour, grow them in a laboratory and then return them to the patient with the hope of the cells destroying the tumour. These cells can be collected from the site of a tumour and exposed to IL-2 in vitro. When these cells are injected back into the tumour bearing host, they will specifically kill the tumour from which they originated. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tumour initiation | <cell biology, oncology> First stage of tumour development. See: tumour progression. (18 Nov 1997) |
| tumour lysis syndrome | <haematology, oncology, syndrome> A syndrome resulting from cytotoxic therapy, occurring generally in aggressive, rapidly proliferating lymphoproliferative disorders. It is characterised by combinations of hyperuricaemia, lactic acidosis, hyperkalaemia, hyperphosphatemia and hypocalcaemia. (12 Dec 1998) |
| tumour 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) |
| tumour 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) |
| tumour necrosis factor-beta | <cytokine> A cytolytic factor that is produced by CD4 and CD8 T-cells after their exposure to an antigen. (05 Mar 2000) |