Glossary of Terms

Pear-shaped organ located under the liver in which bile is concentrated and stored.

A physician who specializes in disorders of the digestive system.

The group of organs through which food passes after being eaten.

A chemotherapy drug frequently used to treat pancreatic cancer. It has been shown, in controlled clinical trials, to improve quality of life.

The trade name for gemcitabine.

The functional and physical unit of heredity passed from parent to child; most genes contain the information for making a specific protein. Genes are composed of DNA.

Having to do with genes and the information in genes.

Discussion with a counselor with specific expertise in diseases caused by abnormal cells that are inherited from family members.

A change in the DNA sequence that makes a gene different from what is normally seen. Mutations cause many different variances in genes, and the majority are harmless. But some mutations make people more likely to develop certain diseases, including cancer.

The chance of getting a disease due to gene mutations that are inherited.

Medical testing of a person’s DNA, which can identify changes in chromosomes, genes, or proteins that indicate the existence of a genetic disorder or disease.

The full set of genes of an organism.

A change in the genes of the sperm or egg cells, which becomes part of the DNA of any offspring. Also called hereditary mutation.

An experimental immunotherapy that stimulates different aspects of the immune system to kill tumor cells.