...internal external organs of the body (i.e., epithelial tissue) in which the tumor cells are arranged in a gland-like structure.

Adenomatous polyps: A tissue mass that bulges outward from the normal surface and which consists of benign tumor tissue; found, for example, in the colon.

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP): A molecule, generated largely in the mitochondria, that provides the energy needed for many key metabolic reactions.

Affinity: Measure of the strength with which an enzyme (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenase [ADH]) interacts with its target molecule (e.g., ethanol); an enzyme variant with a higher affinity can interact with its target at lower concentrations of the target molecule than an enzyme variant with a lower affinity.

Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH): An enzyme that breaks down alcohol by oxidation, converting it to acetaldehyde. (See cytochrome P450.)

Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH): An enzyme that converts acetaldehyde to acetate.

Allele: One of two or more variants of a certain gene.

Amine: A type of organic compound that contains nitrogen as a central atom.

Amino acids: The principal building blocks of proteins and enzymes.

Amino group: A group of atoms found in all amines and amino acids.

Antibody: A protein produced by certain immune cells that recognizes and binds to foreign proteins, leading to the destruction of those proteins.

Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC): A mechanism of cell-mediated immunity whereby certain immune cells actively break up a target cell that has been bound by specific antibodies.

Antioxidant: A substance, such as glutathione, vitamin E, or an enzyme, that inhibits oxidation and that scavenges free radicals and protects the cell against damage caused by these radicals.

Apoptosis: Cell death in which the affected cell participates by activating a cascade of biochemical reactions that lead to death; also known as programmed cell death or cell suicide.

Aromatic amino acids: A class of amino acids, including phenylalanine and tryptophan, in which some of the constituent atoms form a ring.

Carcinogenesis: The process of initiating and promoting cancer.

Carcinoma: A malignant tumor of the epithelial tissue that tends to invade surrounding tissue and metastasize to other regions of the body.

Case-control study: An epidemiologic approach in which previously existing cases of a condition (e.g., a type of cancer)...

NOTE: All illustrations and photos have been removed from this article.



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