cytotoxic
Meaning of cytotoxic: Cytotoxic describes something that damages cells or causes cell death.
Definition of cytotoxic
Cytotoxic means toxic to cells. A cytotoxic substance, treatment, or immune response can injure cells, prevent them from dividing, or cause them to die. Some anticancer medicines are cytotoxic because they target rapidly dividing cells, and certain immune cells can also kill abnormal or infected cells through cytotoxic activity.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
The laboratory measured the cytotoxic effect of the compound on cultured cells.
Good to know
Cytotoxic does not mean cancer-specific. A cytotoxic treatment may also damage healthy cells, which is why dose, delivery, monitoring, and expected adverse effects matter.
Word origin
Where “cytotoxic” comes from
Formed from cyto-, meaning “cell,” and toxic, meaning “poisonous” or “harmful.”