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As used on our website, the following terms have the respective meanings specified below:

Acetyl group:

A chemical substituent composed of two carbon, one oxygen and three hydrogen atoms (CH(3)CO).

 

 

Antisense oligonucleotide:

Short strand of DNA or RNA that binds to and blocks the function of mRNA.

 

 

Angiogenesis:

Blood vessel formation or the growth of blood vessels between a tumour and surrounding tissue so the tumour can be nourished.

 

 

Apoptosis:

Programmed cell death that occurs normally in a developing organism, during aging and in various pathological conditions.

 

 

ATPase:

An enzyme that breaks down ATP to two molecules called ADP and inorganic phosphate.

 

 

beta-lactam antibiotic:

A chemical substance with a beta-lactam group that prevents the growth of bacteria.

 

 

Biomarkers:

A biochemical in the body used to measure the progress of disease or the effects of treatment.

 

 

Catalytic site:

The site on an enzyme where the substrate(s) (the reactants of a chemical or biochemical reaction) attach in order to convert to the product(s) of the reaction, at a much higher speed than the substrate would need to convert to the product alone.

 

 

Cell cycle:

The sequences of events a cell goes through in the process of replication.

 

 

Chromosomes:

Discrete units of the genome carrying many genes. Each chromosome consists of proteins and long strands of DNA.

 

 

Combinatorial chemistry:

Rapid synthesis of large organized collections of compounds called libraries.

 

 

Complete response (CR):

No detectable disease.

 

 

Control:

See placebo.

 

 

CT scan:

Computerized X-ray procedure that produces cross-sectional images of the body. Also called computed axial tomography (CAT) scan.

 

 

Deacetylation:

Refers to the removal of acetyl groups (CH(3)CO) from a molecule which can change the activity of that molecule.

 

 

Disease stabilization:

Little to no increase in tumour dimensions.

 

 

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid):

The chemical structure that forms genes and chromosomes.

 

 

DNA methylation:

Attachment of methyl groups to the cytosine of DNA which can alter the function of DNA.

 

 

DNA methyltransferase:

A protein (enzyme) that catalyzes (mediates) the transfer of a methyl group to DNA.

 

 

Enzymes:

Class of proteins that greatly speed up (catalyze) reactions between specific chemicals (substrates).

 

 

Epigenetics:

The process of regulating gene expression without altering the DNA sequence.

 

 

FDA:

The Food and Drug Administration. This United States regulatory body oversees the drug development process. Most drugs cannot be marketed for sale in the United States without the approval of the FDA.

 

 

Functional genomics: