Biomarkers are biochemical features or facets that can be used to measure the progress of disease or the effects of treatment.

Cell Therapy is the infusion or transplantation of whole cells into a patient for treatment of an inherited or acquired disease.

Chromosomes are long strings of genetic material made up of DNA and proteins. The DNA contains the approximately 30,000 to 100,000 genes that make up the human genome. Human cells contain 23 pairs of chromosomes (= 46 total), with mother and father each contributing one chromosome to each pair.

Clinical Translation is the translation of research from animal models to humans.

Clinical Trial is designed to answer specific questions about vaccines, new therapies, or new ways of using known treatments. Clinical trials invite human volunteers to determine whether new drugs or treatments are both safe and effective. Clinical trials are conducted in four phases: Phase I tests a new drug or treatment in a small group for safety; Phase II expands the study to a larger group of people for safety and effectiveness; Phase III groups are as large as several thousand to confirm results; and Phase IV defines the drug or treatment risks and benefits for government approval.

Preclinical Trial refers to the testing of experimental drugs in the test tube or in animals - the testing that occurs before trials in humans are permitted.

Dendritic cells are the most effective antigen-presenting cells known. They help the immune system recognize cancer cells. They break down cancer cells into smaller pieces (called antigens), then "present," these antigens to T-cells. This allows the immune system cells to recognize and attack the cancer cells.

DNA [deoxyribonucleic acid] carries genetic information in the cell and is capable of self-replication and synthesis of RNA. DNA consists of two long chains of nucleotides twisted into a double helix and joined by hydrogen bonds between the complementary bases adenine and thymine or cytosine and guanine. The sequence of nucleotides determines individual hereditary characteristics.

Gene is a segment of DNA that codes for a particular protein. Humans have over 30,000 genes that act as a blueprint for making specific enzymes or other proteins for virtually every biomedical reaction and body structure.

Genome is the sum of all genes that code for a particular organism including humans.

Genomics is the study of all of the nucleotide sequences, including structural genes, regulatory sequences and non-coding DNA segments, in the chromosome of an organism.

Gene therapy is a technique that uses genes to treat or prevent disease such as cancer by inserting a gene into a patient’s cells instead of using drugs or surgery. Researchers are testing several approaches to gene therapy, including: Replacing a mutated gene that causes disease with a healthy copy of the gene. Inactivating, or “knocking out,” a mutated gene that is functioning improperly. Introducing a new gene into the body to help fight a disease.

Immunotherapy, immune-mediated gene therapy, stimulates or restores the ability of the immune system to fight infection and disease. Research hopes to harness immune mechanisms against tumor cells, by using the patient's own immune system or by transferring of antibodies or T-cells from an outside source.

Lymphocytes are small white blood cells that play a large role in defending the body against disease. Lymphocytes are responsible for immune responses via B and T cells. Lymphocytes also secrete products (lymphokines) that modulate the functional activities of many other types of cells and lymphocytes are often present at sites of chronic inflammation.

The two main types of lymphocytes are B-cells and T-cells. The B-cells make antibodies that attack bacteria and toxins.

T-cells, which mature in the thymus gland, attack body cells themselves when they have been taken over by viruses.

Leukemia is cancer of the blood.

Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymph nodes.

Metastatic is a description of cancer that has spread from the primary site to nearby or distant structures or organs. When cancer spreads, it is still named after the primary site where it started-- for example, the prostate.

Nanotechnology offers the ability to study and interact with normal and cancer cells in real time, and during the earliest stages of the cancer process using particles 50-200 nm in diameter. These particles allow delivery to overcome barriers for entering cells.

Oncogene is a gene capable of causing the transformation of normal cells into cancer.

Oncogenesis is the process in which a damaged cell continues dividing without restrictions, developing into cancer.

Oncolytic virus is a type of virus that infects and lyses (breaks down) cancer cells but not normal cells. Oncolytic viruses can occur naturally or can be made in the laboratory by changing other viruses.

Retrovirus is a type of virus that contains RNA whereby a “reverse” transcriptase makes DNA from the RNA template when it is inserted into a cell. Retroviruses cause many diseases, including some cancers and AIDS.

RNA [Ribonucleic acid] is a molecule that is chemically similar to DNA and carries the same code. DNA is biochemically transcribed by enzymes; the transcription product is RNA. This RNA is read, in turn, by the cell's biochemical machinery to make protein.

Somatic Therapy - Involves the manipulation of gene expression in cells that will correct genetic defects of the patient but is not inherited by the next generation. Somatic cells include all the non-reproductive cells in the human body.

Stromal cells are non-hematopoietic stem cells derived from blood organs such as bone marrow, which are capable of supporting the growth of blood cells.

T-cells are immune cells which mature in the thymus gland.

Tumor suppressor gene, or antioncogene, is a gene that protects a cell from one step on the path to cancer. When this gene is mutated to cause a loss or reduction in its function, the cell can progress to cancer, usually in combination with other genetic changes. One of the most important in multicellular organisms is the p53 gene (also known as protein 53) which regulates the cell cycle and thus
functions as a tumor suppressor that is involved in preventing cancer. As such, p53 has been described as "the guardian of the genome."

Vector is a gene therapy delivery vehicle or carrier that encapsulates therapeutic genes for delivery to cells.

Viral vectors [disabled, not live virus] transfer tumor antigens (proteins found on a tumor cell) which should stimulate an anti-tumor immune response in the body. Viral vectors may also be used to carry genes that can differentiate cancer cells back to normal cells. Vector development seeks to simulate vectors to combat cancer.