Facharzt FMH Medizinische Onkologie - independent subject foundations key terms
Facharzt FMH Medizinische Onkologie - independent subject foundations · Get comfortable with the vocabulary.
- Predictive biomarker
A characteristic assessed for its relationship to differential benefit or harm from a particular treatment in a defined context.
- Prognostic factor
A feature associated with outcome in a disease setting, which does not necessarily identify a differential treatment effect.
- Maintenance therapy
Treatment used after an eligible preceding disease-control phase, distinguished from starting a new regimen after progression.
- Adjuvant therapy
Treatment given after the relevant primary local therapy to address recurrence risk within an evidence-supported indication.
- Neoadjuvant therapy
Treatment preceding a planned principal local intervention, with goals and eligibility defined by the actual disease pathway.
- Antibody-drug conjugate
A therapeutic construct combining antigen recognition, a linker and a payload, each affecting activity and toxicity.
- Synthetic lethality
A biological interaction in which combined disruption of relevant functions is lethal despite tolerance of either disruption alone.
- Variant of uncertain significance
A genetic finding without sufficient evidence for a clear pathogenic classification and not equivalent to an actionable pathogenic variant.
- Mismatch-repair deficiency
Impaired repair of certain DNA replication errors, assessed by appropriate assays and interpreted within the relevant tumor context.
- Tumor lysis syndrome
A metabolic complication of rapid cell breakdown involving potentially dangerous electrolyte and renal consequences requiring monitored assessment.
- Febrile neutropenia
A clinically important fever and neutrophil-deficiency presentation whose management depends on the actual definition, risk and setting.
- Immune-related adverse event
An adverse condition associated with immune activation during checkpoint treatment, whose organ and severity affect management.
- Extravasation
Escape of an infused substance outside the intended vascular space, with consequences dependent on the agent and exposure.
- Graft-versus-host disease
A complication of relevant allogeneic cellular transplantation involving donor immune activity against recipient tissues.
- CAR T-cell therapy
An engineered cellular treatment with a defined antigen target and specialized assessment, monitoring and supportive requirements.
- Progression-free survival
A time-to-event endpoint defined by the study protocol, usually involving progression or death rather than all dimensions of benefit.
- Hazard ratio
A model-based comparison of event hazards over time that is not itself an absolute risk difference.
- Right censoring
A situation in which the event time is not fully observed beyond a known follow-up point, requiring appropriate analytical assumptions.
- Noninferiority margin
A prespecified limit defining the acceptable loss of effect for the named outcome and justified clinical framework.
- Survivorship care
Coordinated follow-up addressing recurrence assessment, late effects, function and broader health needs after or during a cancer trajectory.