Cytotoxic
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Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic (pronunciation: /ˌsaɪtoʊˈtɒksɪk/) refers to a substance or process that results in cell damage or cell death. The term is derived from the Greek words 'kytos' meaning 'cell' and 'toxicos' meaning 'poison'.
Etymology
The term 'cytotoxic' is derived from the Greek words 'kytos' meaning 'cell' and 'toxicos' meaning 'poison'. It was first used in the mid-20th century to describe substances that were harmful to cells.
Related Terms
- Cytotoxicity: The quality of being toxic to cells. Examples of cytotoxic substances include certain types of venom, certain types of poison, and certain pharmaceutical agents that are used to kill cancer cells.
- Cytotoxic T cells: A type of white blood cell that kills cancer cells, cells that are infected (particularly with viruses), or cells that are damaged in other ways.
- Cytotoxic drugs: A group of medicines that contain chemicals which are toxic to cells. They prevent cell division and in this way cause cell death. They are used to treat many types of cancer.
- Cytotoxic therapy: A type of treatment in which cytotoxic drugs are used to kill cancer cells.
See Also
References
- The Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. Oxford University Press, 1966.
- The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cytotoxic
- Wikipedia's article - Cytotoxic
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