Adenovirus |
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The virus which causes the common cold. |
Antibody |
|
A Y-shaped protein on the surface of B cells that is secreted into the blood
or lymph in response to the presence of an antigen. Each antibody binds
to a specific antigen to induce cell apoptosis (cell death). |
Antigen |
|
A protein on the surface of a cell capable of inducing a specific immune
response. |
Apoptosis |
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The process leading to controlled cellular self-destruction (cell "suicide"). |
Cancer |
|
A family of diseases in which cells grow and spread uncontrollably throughout
the body disrupting the balance between new cell growth and old cell death. |
DNA
(deoxyribonucleic acid) |
|
The building block of living organisms that carries the genetic information
in a cell and is able to self replicate and synthesize RNA. |
Ex vivo |
|
Outside the living body. |
Gene |
|
A hereditary unit (comprised of DNA) that carries the instructions for making
the thousands of proteins needed for a specific cellular functions. Certain
diseases are associated with the absence or malfunction of a specific gene. |
Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) |
|
A hormone which plays a key role in stimulating the body's immune response
to cancer cells or other foreign substances. |
Immunotherapy |
|
An approach to the treatment of disease that seeks to stimulate and enhance
the body's natural immune system to fight the disease. |
In vitro |
|
Observable in a test tube. |
In vivo |
|
Inside the living body. |
Lentiviral Vector |
|
A viral gene delivery system engineered for in vivo delivery of therapeutic
genes into both dividing and nondividing cells. Lentiviruses have the capability
to insert a significant amount of genetic information directly into the
DNA blueprint of the host's cells making the lentivirus one of the most
efficient methods of gene delivery. |
Metastasis |
|
The process by which cancer spreads from a primary location in the body
to other healthy tissues located elsewhere in the body via the lymphatic
and circulatory systems. |
Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) |
|
The prototype for the neurotrophin family of polypeptides which are essential
in the developments and survival of certain sympathetic and sensory neurons
in both the central and peripheral nervous systems. |
Oncolytic Virus |
|
Genetically modified virus engineered to selectively replicate in and kill
targeted cancer cells. Oncolytic viruses have been found to be thousands
of times more specific for killing cancer cells than standard chemotherapeutic
drugs. |
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) |
|
A chemical substance produced only in the prostate. A prostate-specific
antigen level above normal may indicate prostate enlargement or cancer,
and signals prompt further investigation. |
Proteins |
|
Complex molecules responsible for specific and unique functions within the
body. Examples of proteins include hormones, enzymes, and antibodies. |
Therapeutic Index |
|
The relative efficiency of one mode of treatment compared to another. |
Vector |
|
The vehicle by which genes are transported into cells thereby allowing cellular
genetic modification to occur. Viral vectors are viruses rendered incapable
of reproducing themselves and non viral vectors are "naked" DNA
or lipid coated DNA. |
Virus |
|
A microorganism that requires a host organism in order to grow and replicate.
A replicating virus integrates its genetic information (DNA or RNA) into
the host cell "overriding" the host cell's biological mechanism
in order to reproduce new virus particles. |
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