Antitumor

/ˌæntiˈtuːmər/ adjective

Definition

Designed to or capable of fighting against cancer tumors and stopping their growth or spread.

Etymology

From anti- (against) + tumor (from Latin tumere, to swell). This medical term became prominent in the 20th century as cancer treatments developed.

Kelly Says

Antitumor drugs work through brilliantly different mechanisms—some poison cancer cells' DNA replication, others trick them into self-destruct mode, and newest ones train the immune system to recognize cancer.

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