Glossary: R-CVP regimen

Treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells.

A drug that is used to treat many types of cancer and is being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. It is also used to treat some types of kidney disease in children. Cyclophosphamide attaches to DNA in cells and may kill cancer cells. It is a type of alkylating agent. Also called CTX and Cytoxan.

A type of cancer that grows slowly.

Cancer that begins in cells of the immune system. There are two basic categories of lymphomas. One kind is Hodgkin lymphoma, which is marked by the presence of a type of cell called the Reed-Sternberg cell. The other category is non-Hodgkin lymphomas, which includes a large, diverse group of cancers of immune system cells. Non-Hodgkin lymphomas can be further divided into cancers that have an indolent (slow-growing) course and those that have an aggressive (fast-growing) course. These subtypes behave and respond to treatment differently. Both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas can occur in children and adults, and prognosis and treatment depend on the stage and the type of cancer.

A drug used to lessen inflammation and lower the body’s immune response. It is used with other drugs to treat leukemia and lymphoma and other types of cancer. It is also used alone or with other drugs to prevent or treat many other conditions. These include conditions related to cancer, such as anemia (a low level of red blood cells), allergic reactions, and loss of appetite. Prednisone is a type of therapeutic glucocorticoid.

An abbreviation for a chemotherapy combination used to treat indolent (slow-growing) non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It includes the drugs rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine sulfate, and prednisone. Also called R-CVP regimen.

A drug used to treat certain types of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It is also used with other drugs to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia and rheumatoid arthritis. It is being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer and other conditions. Rituximab binds to a protein called CD20, which is found on B-cells, and may kill cancer cells. It is a type of monoclonal antibody. Also called Rituxan.

The active ingredient in a drug used to treat acute leukemia. It is used in combination with other drugs to treat Hodgkin disease, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, neuroblastoma, and Wilms tumor. Vincristine is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. It blocks cell growth by stopping cell division. It is a type of vinca alkaloid and a type of antimitotic agent.