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Glossary

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List of terms beginning with An

Anastrozole (Arimidex)

A drug used to treat breast cancer. It works by blocking the production of the female sex hormone oestrogen.

Androgen

A hormone, such as testosterone, that is responsible for the development of male characteristics. Androgens can also encourage the growth of certain cancers, such as prostate cancer.

Androgen-ablation therapy

A type of hormone treatment for cancer, where the purpose is to remove or reduce (ablate) the amount of androgen present in the body.

Angiogenesis

The process by which new blood vessels grow. Cancers can attract new blood vessels to grow towards them to supply them with oxygen and nutrients. Scientists are developing new cancer drugs that block this process in order to starve the tumour.

Anovulatory cycle

Mestruation in which ovulation does not occur.

Antiangiogenic

Something that blocks the process of angiogenesis. For example, antiangiogenic drugs to help treat cancer.

Antibody

Proteins found in the blood, produced by specialised white blood cells called 'B-cells'. B-cells make antibodies when the body recognises that something foreign (unfamiliar) is present, for example infecting bacteria. The antibodies attach themselves to these invaders, which are then destroyed. Scientists can now make synthetic antibodies (sometimes called 'monoclonal antibodies') in the lab, and use them to diagnose and treat disease.

Antibody Directed Enzyme Prodrug Therapy (ADEPT)

A new technique being developed by scientists to target the activity of chemotherapy drugs to precise regions in and around the tumour. The idea is to reduce the side-effects of chemotherapy treatment by minimising damage to normal cells and tissues. The key element of ADEPT is an antibody that's been chemically attached to an enzyme. The antibody is designed to stick to proteins on the surface of cancer cells. The second component of ADEPT is a 'prodrug' - a harmless, inactive form of a cancer drug. The enzyme attached to the antibody can convert the prodrug into its active form.

ADEPT is delivered in two stages. First, the antibodies are injected into the bloodstream. These antibodies travel to the tumour and bind to its surface. Secondly, the patient is given the prodrug. Because the enzyme that activate it are only found in the vicinity of the tumour, this means that the drug only kills cells in this region. This results in targeted killing of cancer cells.

Although it has shown promise in several trials, there's still a lot of work to do to perfect this technique for widespread use.

Anticarcinogenic

Something that prevents or delays the development of cancer.

Antioxidant

A substance that prevents a chemical process called oxidation. Oxidation damage to body cells can cause genetic mutations that can lead to cancer. So it has been proposed that eating foods high in antioxidants might help prevent cancer.

However, because it is extremely difficult to separate out the effects of different substances in our diets, it has so far been extremely difficult to prove that this is the case.

Anus

The opening at the end of the alimentary canal through which excrement leaves the body.