Glossary

Cancer that forms in the tissues of the adrenal glands (two glands located just above the kidneys). The adrenal glands make hormones that control heart rate, blood pressure, and other important body functions. Adrenal cancer that starts in the outside layer of the adrenal gland is called adrenocortical carcinoma. Adrenal cancer that starts in the center of the adrenal gland is called malignant pheochromocytoma.

Learn more about adrenal tumors

The growth of abnormal cells in the tissues of the brain. Brain tumors can be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer).

Learn more about brain tumors

Cancer that forms in tissues of the breast, usually the ducts (tubes that carry milk to the nipple) and lobules (glands that make milk). It occurs in both men and women, although male breast cancer is rare.

Learn more about breast cancer

The individual unit that makes up the tissues of the body. All living things are made up of one or more cells.

(Deoxyribonucleic acid) is a nucleic acid (biological molecules essential for life) that contains the genetic information for the development and functioning of all living organisms. DNA consists of four letters (also called base pairs) and the sequence (or order) of those letters determines the details of your genetic code.

Determining the pattern or order in which the nucleotide bases occur in a piece of DNA. This sequence is the genetic code.

An incorrectly functioning organ, structure of the body that may result from different causes such as genetic or environmental changes, toxicity, etc.

A sequence of DNA that is located in a specific region on a chromosome. Genes confer hereditary characteristics in a living being.

Professional service provided by genetic counselors. It provides information about the pros and cons of the genetic test including the social and emotional aspects of testing.

A health professional with a specialized graduate degree and experience in the areas of medical genetics and counseling.

A medical test that is used to detect changes that are associated with inherited disorders. The results of a genetic test can validate or rule out a suspected genetic disorder.

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Act that protects Americans against discrimination based on their genetic information when it comes to health insurance and employment.

The IRB is a committee made up of doctors, researchers, and members of the community.  The IRB is responsible for protecting the participants involved in research studies and making sure all research is done in a safe and ethical manner.

Genes can have changes called mutations when the DNA sequence changes. These changes can sometimes lead to a disease and the development of cancer.

Cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow and causes large numbers of blood cells to be produced and enter the bloodstream.

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A malignant primary tumor of bone.

A diagram that shows relationships among family members. In medicine, a pedigree may also show the pattern of certain genes or diseases within a family.

A group of symptoms occurring together that indicate a specific disorder, disease.

Malignant primary tumors of the soft tissue (include muscle, fat, blood vessels, nerves, tendons and the lining of the joints).

Learn more about soft tissue sarcoma

An abnormal mass of tissue that results when cells divide more than they should or do not die when they should. Tumors may be benign (not cancer), or malignant (cancer). Also called neoplasm.

A type of gene that makes a protein called a tumor suppressor protein that helps control cell growth. Mutations (changes in DNA) in tumor suppressor genes may lead to cancer. Also called antioncogene.