Adjuvant	supportive therapy applied after initial main treatment.
Akt	(protein kinase B), an enzyme that plays a role in cell metabolism, especially the insulin pathway.
AMPK	(5′ adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase), an enzyme involved in cell metabolism.
Analogue	a compound similar in structure to another.
Angiogenesis	formation of new blood vessels.
Apoptosis	death of cells by a pre-programmed genetic mechanism.
Autophagy	a mode of cell death, removing damaged proteins, organelles and pathogens.
Beta (β)-catenin	protein that plays a role in cell signaling and cell-cell adhesion.
Bioavailability	the proportion of a substance that can be absorbed by the body.
Biomarker	a molecule from which a biological process can be identified.
BMI	(body-mass index, the body weight in kg divided by the square of the body height in meters), a measure of obesity.
Cachexia	late-stage weakness and wasting of the body due to severe illness.
CA9	(carbonic anhydrase-9), an enzyme involved in controlling the body’s acidity.
Case-control study	a retrospective study comparing the effect of a given measurable factor on a group of people, compared with a control (non-exposed) group.
Carcinogenesis	formation of cancer.
Caspase-3	an enzyme involved in apoptosis.
Clinical trial	testing of a drug on humans prior to official approval, beginning with basic toxicity (phase I) and leading to more detailed evaluation on increasing numbers of patients (phases II–IV).
Cohort study	a longitudinal (time-course) study testing the effect of a certain treatment on a group of people, normally in comparison with a control (untreated) group.
Cytokine	signaling molecule (protein) involved in cell signaling, common in the immune system.
Desmoplasia	dense fibrous tissue.
EGF	(epidermal growth factor), a protein involved in the growth, proliferation and differentiation of cells.
EGFR	(epidermal growth factor receptor), a protein acted upon by epidermal growth factor.
EMT	(epithelial-mesenchymal transition), an early event/morphological change in cancer cells becoming invasive.
Epigenetic	regulation of gene expression levels.
Flavonoid	groups of chemicals, pigments, found in plants that have anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties.
5-FU	(5-fluorouracil), a common anti-cancer drug (‘chemotherapy’) often used in combination with other medications.
FOLFIRINOX	(folinic acid, fluorouracil, irinotecan and oxaliplatin), a combination chemotherapy drug.
GPCR	(G protein-coupled receptor), a protein found on the cell membrane that interacts with incoming signaling molecules.
Hedgehog	a signaling mechanism operating in cells, especially during development, and tumorigenesis; sonic hedgehog is a main protein.
Hydrogel	cross-linked polymer gel that can absorb and retain water.
Hyperplasia	increase in the number of cells within an organ or tissue, forming a barrier.
IGF	(insulin-like growth factor), a protein involved in the growth, proliferation and differentiation of cells; shares the same receptor with insulin.
Intraperitoneal	an injection into the abdominal cavity of the body.
Isoform	a protein with the same function as another but differing slightly in structure.
Isomers	a molecule with the same formula but different structure.
KPC	a genetically modified mouse model of pancreatic cancer.
KRAS	a gene that, when mutated, can cause cells to become cancerous.
Macrophage	a type of cell found in the immune system, detects and destroys harmful microorganisms.
MAPK	(mitogen associated protein kinase), an enzyme that has a central involvement in the cancer process.
Meta-analysis	quantitative study that uses the results of multiple previous analyses to achieve a consensus opinion.
Microbiome	microorganisms, especially bacteria, that reside in parts of the body e.g., the gut.
Neo-adjuvant	initial therapy applied before the main treatment, e.g., chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Neoplasm	new and abnormal growth of tissue, commonly leading to cancer.
NF-kB	(nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells), a protein involved in gene expression and patho/physiological regulation.
Notch	a protein involved in cellular signaling, especially during development, and cancer.
Orthotopic	something occurring in its normal location.
PanIN	(pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia), a pathological indicator of pancreatic cancer and its grade.
PDAC	(pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma), the most common type of pancreatic cancer.
PDX	(patient derived xenograft), human cancer tissue implanted and surviving in an animal model.
PI3K	(phosphoinositide 3-kinase), an enzyme involved in cell signaling.
Polyphenol	a type of plant-derived chemical with health benefits.
Rho-kinase	a protein/enzyme involved in cell signaling, often as an intermediary.
STAT3	(signal transducer and activator of transcription 3), a protein involved in cell signaling and gene regulation.
T-cell	a type of lymphocyte (white blood cell) that is a central part of the immune system.
TGFβ	(transforming growth factor beta), a primary signaling protein involved in cellular mechanisms.
TRAIL	(tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand), a protein that promotes programmed cell death.
Transgenic	an organism that contains genetic information from another organism, often used as cancer models.
Wnt	(Wingless and Int-1), a signaling mechanism operating in cells, especially during development and tumorigenesis; incorporates a variety of Wnt proteins.
Xenograft	a tissue from one species, grafted experimentally to another (often human to mouse).