Relating to or describing a substance that prevents or stops cell division (mitosis), often used in cancer treatment.
From anti- (against) + mitotic (from mitosis, the process of cell division). Mitosis comes from Greek mitos (thread), referring to the thread-like chromosomes visible during cell division. The term emerged in medical science in the early 20th century.
Many powerful cancer drugs are antimitotic—they work by essentially hitting the brakes on cells trying to divide, which is why they can have tough side effects since healthy cells that divide quickly (like hair and gut cells) also get slowed down.
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