Article

Speaking of Studies

Learn the terminology to decipher research studies

Absolute risk: The risk of developing a disease over a specific period of time.

Complete response: Disappearance of all signs of cancer as a result of treatment; does not always equate to a cure.

Disease-free survival: Length of time after treatment during which no evidence of cancer is found.

Five-year survival: The percentage of patients in a population who have survived at least five years. Five years is the standard for most cancers when discussing survival.

Mean: The average of a group of numbers.

Median: The middle number(s) in a group.

Partial response: Tumor shrinkage by at least 30 percent.

Progression: Spreading or growing disease (by at least 20 percent), with or without treatment.

Progression-free survival: The length of time a patient has survived without growth of the cancer.

Relative risk: The risk of disease in an affected (exposed) group compared with a control (unexposed) group.

Stable disease: The cancer is neither growing nor shrinking.

Adapted with permission of the American Cancer Society.

Newsletter

Stay up to date on cancer updates, research and education

Subscribe Now!
Related Videos
Dr. Masey Ross explains how biomarker testing, patient history, and quality-of-life concerns guide treatment decisions in metastatic breast cancer.
Dr. Paolo Tarantino shares how antibody-drug conjugates deliver more targeted chemo, and how the treatment lasts longer in the body vs traditional therapy.
Image of women with text.
Dr. Breelyn Wilky urged newly diagnosed GIST patients to seek support from peers and advocacy groups, and to consult experts, even if care stays local.
The inMIND trial led to the FDA approval of Monjuvi with Revlimid and Rituxan for relapsed follicular lymphoma, showing benefits across diverse patients.
Clinical Trial Evaluating Monjuvi in Lymphoma Gives Lasting Responses
Survivors can find strength after cancer by focusing on goals, loved ones, and spiritual connection, especially during challenging or uncertain times.
Image of man with text.
Related Content
Image of blood cells.
July 15th 2025

How Love Helped Me Face Leukemia and Keep Living

Chaipat Tirapongprasert
Facing leukemia and uncertainty, I leaned on love and resolve to keep living day by day, despite fear and an unknown future ahead.
The Importance of Spotting Endometrial Cancer
March 18th 2025

The Importance of Spotting Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial cancer is on the rise. Hear survivor Angélica and Eisai Inc.'s Teresa Cronin discuss the Spot Her® initiative, which empowers women to spot early signs. This episode is sponsored by Eisai.
Image of man with text.
July 15th 2025

Refining Treatment Approaches and Advancements in High-Risk Melanoma

Ryan Scott
Dr. Vincent Ma discussed the most recent and notable treatment updates for patients with high-risk and advanced melanoma.
ROS1+ Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Progress in Care
September 20th 2024

ROS1+ Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Progress in Care

This episode of the Cancer Horizons podcast features Dr. Jason Porter – a medical oncologist and hematologist at the West Cancer Center and Research Institute and Director of the Lung Cancer Disease research group and is sponsored by Bristol Myers Squibb.
Bria-IMT plus a checkpoint inhibitor improved survival versus Trodelvy and chemo in patients with heavily pretreated metastatic breast cancer: © stock.adobe.com.
July 15th 2025

Bria-IMT Improves Survival in Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer

Spencer Feldman
Bria-IMT plus a checkpoint inhibitor improved survival versus Trodelvy and chemo in patients with heavily pretreated metastatic breast cancer.
Image of Linda Cohen.
July 14th 2025

Finding Freedom and Uncertainty in My Cancer Remission Pause

Linda Cohen
I’m in remission from small lymphocytic lymphoma and off treatment, savoring this break while learning to live with the uncertainty that still lingers.