Glossary of Terms

ANC: absolute neutrophil count; neutrophils help the body fight infections. When the ANC is low, a patient is susceptible to infection.

Bone marrow: the soft, spongy material in the center of bones that produces blood cells.

Colony-Stimulating Factor (CSF): naturally occurring substances that regulate growth and maturation of white blood cells. There are several commercially available CSFs, including Neupogen, Neulasta and Leukine.

Complete Blood Count (CBC): blood test that enumerates red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

Cryopreservation: process used to freeze stem cells.

Engraftment: when the marrow is repopulated by reinfused stem cells.

Granulocyte: a type of white blood cell that helps the body fight infections; also known as a neutrophil.

Hematopoietic Growth Factor: see Colony-Stimulating Factor.

Immunosuppression: impaired functioning of the immune system, which can be a side effect of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Leukocyte: also known as white blood cell; divided into three main subgroups: granulocytes, lymphocytes and monocytes.

Mucositis: reddening and soreness of the tongue, lips, mouth, throat and gastrointestinal tract from chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Neutropenia: low neutrophil count; patients who are neutropenic are susceptible to infection.

Neutrophil: see Granulocyte.

Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant (PBSCT): a type of ASCT in which stem cells from the blood are used.

Platelet: blood cell that helps prevent bleeding.

Progenitor Cells: immature cells in the bone marrow and blood that are capable of producing mature blood cells; also referred to as stem cells.

Red blood cell: a type of blood cell that carries oxygen in the body.

Stem cells: immature cells in the bone marrow and blood that are capable of producing mature blood cells; also referred to as progenitor cells.

Stem cell harvest: a process in which cells are taken from the patient's blood and frozen for later use.

White Blood Cell (WBC): see Leukocyte.