In cancer biology, the process by which cells lose their specialized characteristics and become more primitive or undifferentiated, typically a sign of aggressive cancer.
From Greek ana- (back, again) + plasis (formation), literally meaning 'reformation' or 'going back' to a more primitive form.
Anaplasia is cancer's 'rewind button'—cancer cells essentially forget how to be liver cells or skin cells and revert to being primitive, rapidly-dividing blobs, which makes them more dangerous.
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