The donor is usually a brother or a sister, if one is available and is a "match" for the patient. An unrelated person with stem cells that "match" the patient's can be used if a brother or sister cannot be the donor. These unrelated donors may be found through stem cell donor banks or registries. High-dose chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy are given to the patient followed by a stem cell transplant. The transplanted stem cells go from the patient's blood to his or her marrow.

The new cells grow and provide a supply of red cells, white cells (including immune cells), and platelets. The donated stem cells make immune cells that are not totally "matched" with the patient's cells. (Patients and donors are matched to major tissue types but not minor tissue types.) For this reason, the donor immune cells may recognize the patient's cancer cells' minor tissue types as foreign and kill the cancer cells. This is called "graft versus cancer effect." Allogeneic stem cell transplant is more successful in younger patients than older patients. Patients up to about 60 years of age who have a matched donor may be considered for transplant, depending on other the patient's general health and other treatment choices.

Anemia
A condition that occurs when the number of red cells in the blood is below normal. Red cells carry oxygen around the body. Severe anemia can cause a person to be pale, easily tired, or short of breath with mild activity.

Antibiotics
Drugs that are used to treat infections caused by bacteria or fungi. Penicillin is one type of antibiotic.

Autologous stem cell infusion
A treatment that uses a patient's own stem cells to restore blood and immune cell formation after intense chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. This treatment does not provide "graft-versus-cancer effect." The stem cells are taken from the patient's blood or marrow when in remission and frozen for later use. The stem cells may help the patient's body make healthy blood cells after very intense treatment with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. The stored stem cells can be returned to the patient through a vein after marrow-destroying intense treatment with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy is used.

Baseline test
A test measurement before the onset of treatment or during a period of observation to determine if that measure is improving or worsening.

BCR-ABL cancer gene
A mutant gene that is formed when a piece of chromosome 9 attaches to the end of chromosome 22. The BCR-ABL cancer gene gives the cell instructions to make a protein that leads to CML.

Bence Jones protein
A protein made by myeloma cells that is found in the plasma and urine of many patients with myeloma. This type of protein is also called "light chains" because it represents a smaller segment of the whole immunoglobulin molecule, composed of heavy and light chains.

Benzene
Benzene is a widely used chemical formed from both natural and manufacturing processes. It is used to make plastics, detergents, pesticides and other chemical compounds. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that long-term exposure to benzene may cause acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set limits of 1 part benzene per million parts of workplace air (1 ppm) for 8 hour shifts and 40 hour work weeks. For more information about benzene see http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts3.html#bookmark04.

Beta 2-microglobulin
A protein carried on blood cells that is shed into the plasma. Measuring the amount of beta 2-microglobulin can be one of the ways to assess the extent of disease. A high level may indicate that the disease is more likely to progress, if untreated.

Blast cell
Immature blood-forming cell.

Bone marrow aspirate
A test to look at the cells in the marrow. A bone marrow aspirate is usually done at the same time as a bone marrow biopsy. These tests may be done in a doctor's office. The test is done by removing a small amount of marrow into a special needle. The patient gets medication first to numb the hip bone from which the sample is taken. The cells are looked at under a microscope to determine if they are normal and if not what abnormality is present. For, example, one may find leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma cells in the marrow.

Bone marrow biopsy
A test to look at the cells in the marrow. A bone marrow biopsy is usually done together with a bone marrow aspirate. These tests may be done in a doctor's office. The test is done by removing a very small piece of bone filled with marrow. This is done with a special needle. The patient gets medication first to numb the hip bone that is used for the biopsy. The marrow cells are looked at under a microscope to determine if they are normal and if not what abnormality is present. For, example, one may find leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma cells in the marrow. Doing a biopsy as well as an aspirate is important because the aspirate may not result in a good enough sample to make a diagnosis.

Cancer-related fatigue (cancer treatment-related fatigue)
An unusual tiredness that interferes with daily life and cannot be overcome by resting or a good night's sleep.

Catheter
Patients treated with IV chemotherapy may benefit from having a long-term IV catheter. These are called "tunneled catheters," "central lines," "Hickman®," "Broviac," "Groshong®" catheters. They can remain in place for very long periods and are used in the hospital as well as at home. The catheter can also be used to give IV fluids, blood products and other medications, such as antibiotics, and to draw blood for testing. Most catheters are positioned on the chest wall. Placement is usually done with local anesthesia. There may be a few stitches at one or both sites until the areas have healed. Small, clear dressings are changed frequently to prevent infection. Hospital or clinic staff show patients or family how to clean and care for the catheter. Short-term catheters are temporary access devices for giving medications. These work in the same way as tunneled catheters but are removed before the patient leaves the hospital. Short-term catheters are put in place in the patient's hospital room. A local anesthetic is injected around the insertion site. The site, located near the neck or collarbone, is kept covered with a dressing.

Chemotherapy
Treatment with drugs or medicines to kill leukemia cells.

Chromosome 
A part of the cell that carries genes. Genes give instructions that tell the cell what to do. The cell has 46 chromosomes, 22 pairs of chromosomes plus two sex chromosomes. Females have two "X" chromosomes. Males have one "X" and one "Y" chromosome.

Clinical trials
Studies that use patient volunteers to test new drugs, treatments or new uses for approved drugs or treatments in an effort to develop better therapy.

Complete blood count (CBC)
A series of tests used to measure levels of red cells, white cells, and platelets in the blood, and the appearance of cells on a blood film. The CBC is used diagnose and manage many diseases.

Complete remission
A term that is applied to a patient's health status after treatment, when there is no sign of the disease using standard tests specific for that disease and the patient has returned to good health.

Consolidation therapy 
A term usually applied to the treatment of acute leukemia for drug treatment given to patients in remission after induction therapy. The aim of consolidation therapy is to kill as many of the remaining cancer cells as possible.

Cytogenetic analysis
The term for a lab test that is used to examine the chromosomes in marrow, blood, and lymph node cells. It can confirm that the cells are cancer cells (malignant) and in some cases the results may guide the intensity of therapy.

Cytogenetic response (cytogenetic remission)
A treatment response in which there is no leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma cells detected in the blood and/or marrow by the FISH test.

Cytokines
Natural substances made by cells that act on other cells to increase (stimulate) or decrease (inhibit) their function. Synthetic cytokines can also be made in the lab for use in treatment. Cytokines that stimulate cell growth are sometimes referred to as "growth factors." These can be used to help improve normal blood cell counts during treatment. For example, granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is used to stimulate neutrophil production; its use may shorten the period of low neutrophil counts in the blood after chemotherapy. Growth factors that stimulate red cell production may be used to treat severe anemia in patients receiving chemotherapy. Other cytokines are used to enhance the immune system to better attack blood cancer cells. Examples of cytokines used in this way include interferons and interleukins.

Disease subtype
A term used to describe a form of leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes and other diseases. The disease subtype is often important in determining how to treat the patient. For example, acute monocytic leukemia is a subtype of acute myelogenous leukemia.

Drug resistance
When a drug used to treat a patient's disease does not work or stops working.

Diagnosis
The identification of a disease or condition by a physician from a patient's signs, symptoms, and test results.

Donor lymphocyte infusion
A treatment that uses an infusion of white cells called lymphocytes from the original stem cell donor.

FDA
The short name for the United States Food and Drug Administration. The FDA looks at the results of drug studies and determines if a drug is safe and effective.

FISH
The short name for a test called "fluorescence in situ hybridization," a test to measure the presence in cells of a specific chromosome or gene. This test can be used to plan treatment and to measure the results of treatment.

Flow cytometry
A method of counting types of cells with fluorescent tags on the surfaces of the cells. Flow cytometry is often used to determine the type of leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma cells that are present. For example, each disease subtype has a specific pattern of markers on its cell surface. Flow cytometry can also detect residual levels of disease after treatment.

Gene
Parts of cells that give instructions for making proteins. Proteins help the cell do its job.

Gleevec
The brand name for imatinib mesylate, a type of drug called a "tyrosine kinase inhibitor," which is approved to treat CML.

Graft versus cancer effect
With an allogeneic stem cell transplant, donor stem cells go from the patient's blood to his or her marrow. The new cells grow and provide a supply of red cells, white cells (including immune cells), and platelets. The donated stem cells make immune cells that are not totally "matched" with the patient's cells. (Patients and donors are matched to major tissue types but not minor tissue types.) For this reason, the donor immune cells may recognize the patient's cancer cells' minor tissue types as foreign and kill the cancer cells. This is called "graft versus cancer effect."

Hematologic response (hematologic remission)
A treatment response where the leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma cell numbers are decreased in the blood; and, red cell count, white cell count, and platelet count are either at or near normal values.

Hematologist
A physician who treats blood cell diseases.

Hemoglobin
A part of red blood cells that carries oxygen.

Immune response
The reaction of the body to foreign material such as an infection-causing microorganism, an immunization, or the cells of another individual used for an allogeneic stem cell transplant.

Immune system
Cells and proteins that defend the body against infection.

Immunoglobulin (gamma globulin)
A protein found in the blood that helps the body fight infections. Some patients with blood cancers that involve B lymphocytes (immune cells that make immunoglobulin) may not produce enough immunoglobulins. For these patients, who may be at risk for repeated infections, injections of immunoglobulins (gamma globulin) may be given to try to prevent or treat infection.

Immunophenotyping
A procedure that is used to identify a specific type of cell in a sample of blood, marrow or lymph node cells. This procedure can be important in helping to decide on the best treatment for a patient. Some examples of immunophenotyping are: myelogenous leukemic cells can be distinguished from lymphocytic leukemic cells, normal lymphocytes can be distinguished from leukemic lymphocytes, and B-cell lymphocytes can be distinguished from T-cell lymphocytes. Immunophenotyping also provides information about whether the patient's cells are monoclonal (derived from a single malignant cell).

Immunotherapy for cancer
The use of immune cells to attack cancer cells. Immunotherapies are being studied for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma treatment. Cancer vaccine therapy is one example of an immunotherapy. This type of vaccine would not prevent disease, but would "train" immune cells to recognize and attack blood cancer cells.

Induction therapy
The initial treatment of a patient with a blood cancer with chemotherapy (or radiation therapy). The aim of induction therapy is to kill a maximum number of blood cancer cells so as to induce a remission (absence of signs or effects of the disease).

Late effects
Medical problems that do not develop or become apparent until months or years after treatment ends. Examples of late effects include the development of a treatment-related cancer or heart disease.

Leukapheresis
A process in which extra white cells are removed by a machine.

Leukemia
The name for a group of diseases that are cancers of the marrow and blood. There are four main types of leukemia: acute lymphocytic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia and chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Light chains
A part of the monoclonal (M) protein in myeloma. Monoclonal immunoglobulin (protein), like normal immunoglobulin is usually made up of two heavy (larger) chains and two light (smaller) chains attached to each other. The abnormal production of immunoglobulin protein by myeloma cells sometimes results in parts of the molecule, that is the heavy chain or light chain, being made and discharged from the myeloma cells. They can each be measured in plasma. The light chains are small enough to pass through the kidney and enter the urine, where they can be detected.

Long-term effects
Medical problems that persist for months or years after treatment ends, for example, infertility, growth problems in children, or cancer treatment-related fatigue.

Lymphatic vessels
These channels connect the lymph nodes. They contain lymph - a fluid that carries lymphocytes as they circulate from one lymph node area to another. The lymphatic channels are connected to the blood vascular sytem permitting lymphocytes to enter the blood.

Lymph node
A structure the size of a bean that contains large numbers of lymphocytes and is connected to other lymph nodes by small channels called lymphatics. Lymph nodes are distributed throughout the body.

Lymphoblastic
A term used to describe a type of blood cell disease caused by young or immature lymphocytes or "lymphoblasts". An example is acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which is characterized by the presence of malignant (cancerous) lymphoblasts (immature lymphocytes).

Lymphocyte
A type of white blood cell that is part of the immune system. There are three major types of lymphocytes: B lymphocytes that produce antibodies to help combat bacterial, fungal or viral infections; T lymphocytes that have several functions, including assisting B lymphocytes to make antibodies; and natural killer (NK) cells that can attack virus-infected cells or tumor cells.

Lymphocytic
A term used to describe a type of blood cell abnormality caused by lymphocytes. An example is chronic lymphocytic leukemia, which is characterized by the presence of malignant (cancerous) lymphocytes. Sometimes used as a synonym for "lymphoblastic." 

Lymphoma
A type of cancer that begins with a malignant change in a lymphocyte, lymph node cell or a cell in the lymphatic tissue of the marrow, gastrointestinal tract, spleen, skin or other sites.

Marrow
The spongy center inside of bones.

Matched donor
A person whose major tissue types are identical to those of a patient who is seeking a stem cell transplant. The patient can be given the donor's healthy matched stem cells, which can restore blood and immune cells after high-intensity cancer treatment. 

Molecular response
A treatment response is called a complete molecular remission if no leukemia cells  in the blood and/or marrow can be detected by PCR.

Monoclonal antibody therapy
A type of therapy that targets and kills cancer cells. Monoclonal antibodies are immune proteins made in the laboratory. They are designed to target to a specific blood cancer cell. They produce less toxic effects on normal tissues than chemotherapy.

Monocyte
A type of white cell. Monocytes and neutrophils are the two major microbe-eating and killing cells in the blood.

M protein (monoclonal protein)
Myeloma cells make a protein called monoclonal immunoglobulin, sometimes referred to as M protein. M protein, like normal immunoglobulin is usually made up of two heavy (larger) chains and two light (smaller) chains attached to each other.  The amount of M protein in the blood can be measured in the laboratory. It is used to estimate the extent of the myeloma and to follow the effects of treatment.

Myelogenous
A term used to describe a form of blood cancer that begins in a marrow stem cell or early marrow progenitor cell. A blood cancer that begins in the marrow is called leukemia. Myelogenous leukemias usually do not directly affect lymphocytes. The terms "myeloid" or "myelocytic" are sometimes used instead of "myelogenous."

Neutropenia
A decrease below normal in the concentration of neutrophils, a type of white cell.

Neutrophil
A type of white cell. Neutrophils and monocytes are the two main microbe-eating cell and infection-fighting in the blood.

Nonmyeloablative stem cell transplant (mini-transplant)
A type of allogeneic stem cell transplant that does not use high-dose chemotherapy as a treatment. The patient takes special drugs so that his or her immune system does not reject the transplanted stem cells. Over a long time, the donated cells replace the patient's blood and immune system cells. The donated cells also attack the leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma cells. Other drugs to help the transplanted stem cells fight the blood cancer without attacking healthy cells are being tested in clinical trials.

Nucleus
A part of the cell containing the chromosomes and genes.

Oncologist
A physician who treats patients with cancer.

Pathologist
A doctor who examines cells and tissues obtained from biopsies to determine the type of disease present.

PCR
The short name for a lab test called "polymerase chain reaction," a very sensitive test that can measure  the presence of a blood cancer cell marker in the blood. It is used to detect remaining blood cancer cells that are below the detection of cytogenetic methods (e.g. FISH).

Plasma
Part of the blood that is mostly water, with some vitamins, minerals, proteins, hormones and other natural chemicals.

Platelets
A type of blood cell that prevents bleeding and forms a plug that stops bleeding after an injury to the body.

Port
An implanted port is a type of long-term catheter. The port is surgically inserted under the skin's surface on the upper chest wall. After the site heals, no dressings are needed and no special home care is required. When medicines are needed, a physician, physician assistant or nurse inserts a needle through the skin to access the port. The patient can choose to have a local numbing cream applied to the injection site before the port is used. Blood can be drawn, and blood products can be received through this device.

Radiation therapy
The use of x-rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells.

Radioimmunotherapy
A treatment that uses antibodies to carry a radioactive substance to cancer cells to kill them. They are used in the treatment of lymphoma and lymphocytic leukemia.

Red cell
A blood cell that carries oxygen and delivers it to the body.

Refractory disease
Disease that does not respond to therapy.

Relapse or recurrence
When disease comes back after it has been successfully treated.

Remission
A period of time with no signs of disease and/or when the patient does not have any symptoms of the disease.

Richter transformation
A change to a faster-growing form of CLL that may occur in a small proportion of patients with CLL.

Risk factor
A factor that may increase the chance that a person will develop a disease or condition. For example, cigarette smoking is a risk factor for lung cancer.

Side effect
The signs or symptoms a patient may have from the effects of treatment on healthy cells.
 
Signs and symptoms
A sign is a change in the body that the doctor sees in an exam or a lab test. A symptom is a change in the body that a patient can see or feel.

Small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL)
A disease with identical physical changes in lymph nodes as CLL. SLL starts in a lymphocyte in a lymph node and primarily involves lymph nodes and secondarily, marrow and blood. CLL starts in a lymphocyte in the marrow and primarily involves marrow and blood and secondarily, lymph nodes.

Spleen
An organ found on the left side of the body, near the stomach. It contains lymphocytes and cleans worn-out cells from the blood.

Sprycel
The brand name for dasatinib, a type of drug called a "tyrosine kinase inhibitor," which is approved to treat CML for patients who are resistant or intolerant to prior therapy including Gleevec.

Stem cell
A type of cell found in marrow that makes red cells, white cells and platelets.

Tasigna
The brand name for nilotinib, a type of drug called a "tyrosine kinase inhibitor" that is approved for certain CML patients who are resistant or intolerant to prior therapy including Gleevec. 

Thrombocyte
Another word for platelet.

Thrombocytopenia
A decrease below normal in the number of platelets

Vaccine therapy
A type of treatment under study for leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma. This type of vaccine would not prevent the disease. The vaccine would increase the immune system's attack against cancer cells that remain after treatment with drugs.

Watch and wait
An approach in which a physician closely observes a patient's condition with periodic medical exams and lab tests, without giving drugs or other forms of treatment for the disease in question. For some patients with non-growing or very slow-growing disease and no symptoms, watch and wait may be preferred; it allows the patient to avoid drug treatment and its potential side effects until drugs are needed. This approach is based on studies that indicate early treatment in the specific situation in question is not beneficial.

White cell
Types of cell that fights infections in the body. There are two major types of white cells: germ-ingesting cells (neutrophils and monocytes) and lymphocytes, which provide an immune response to infection.