Carcinogenicity
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Carcinogenicity
Carcinogenicity (pronunciation: /ˌkɑːrsɪnədʒɛnɪsɪti/) refers to the ability or tendency of a substance, radiation or process to induce or promote cancer formation.
Etymology
The term "carcinogenicity" is derived from the Greek words "karkinos" meaning crab, and "genes" meaning born of or produced by. This is in reference to the crab-like shape of some tumors and the ability of carcinogens to produce cancer.
Related Terms
- Carcinogen: A substance or agent that can cause cells to become cancerous by altering their genetic structure so that they multiply continuously and become malignant.
- Mutagen: An agent, such as radiation or a chemical substance, which causes genetic mutation.
- Oncogene: A gene that in certain circumstances can transform a cell into a tumor cell.
- Tumor: An abnormal mass of tissue that results when cells divide more than they should or do not die when they should.
- Malignant: Refers to cancer cells that can invade and kill nearby tissue and spread to other parts of the body.
- Benign: Refers to a condition, tumor, or growth that is not cancerous.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Carcinogenicity
- Wikipedia's article - Carcinogenicity
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