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Glossary

Anti-apoptotic – Something that prevents apoptosis, a form of cell death

Apoptosis – A process of programmed cell death; the apoptotic mode of cell death is an active and defined series of molecular steps that plays an important role in the in the regulation and maintenance of the cell populations in tissues, including that of tumor cells

Autophagy - The process of self-digestion by a cell through the action of its own enzymes

Bcl-2 - Derives its name from B-cell lymphoma 2; the Bcl-2 family is a group of proteins that are involved in a number of cancers, including melanoma, breast, prostate and lung carcinomas, and are also thought to be involved in resistance to conventional cancer treatment.  The Bcl-2 family is involved in the regulation of apoptosis, a form of cell death.

Hematological – Involving the blood, blood-forming organs, or blood diseases

High-throughput screening - The method by which large numbers of compounds are screened simultaneously using automated robotic technology

Homeostasis - The process by which an organism or cell maintains its internal equilibrium by adjusting its physiological processes; a state of balance in the body

Hydrolytic - The splitting of a compund into fragments by the addition of water

Hydrophobic - Refers to the property of a molecule that is repelled from water

Immunosuppression – Reduction of the activation or efficacy of the immune system

In situ - Refers to the technique of studying a phenomenon exactly in place where it occurs

In vitro - Refers to the technique of performing an experiment in a test tube, or, generally, in a controlled environment outside a living organism

In vivo – Refers to experimentation done in or on the living tissue of a whole, living organism rather than a partial or dead one

Mechanism of action - The specific biochemical interaction through which a drug produces its effect

Myelosuppression - Reduction in the ability of the bone marrow to produce blood cells

Oncogenic – Any process involved in tumor formation

Pan-inhibitor – A molecule that decreases the activity of several related protein groups

Pathway - The sequence of biochemical reactions by which one substance is converted into another

Prodrug - A substance (drug) that is administered in an inactive (or significantly less active) form. Once administered, the prodrug is converted into the active compound.

Up-regulation – Process that occurs when a cell is deficient in a specific kind of receptors, so more receptors enter or attach to the cell membrane to bring the function of the cell back to normal