cancer cell
Definition
Noun: A cancer cell is a cell that is part of a malignant tumor. It is a cell that has undergone genetic changes, causing it to divide uncontrollably and ignore signals to stop dividing or to die. These cells can invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body.
Usage
The term "cancer cell" is used to describe the specific, abnormal cells that constitute cancerous growths, distinguishing them from normal, healthy cells in the body. - It is typically used in medical, biological, and oncological contexts. - It functions as a countable noun.
Examples
- Under the microscope, the pathologist identified the abnormal cancer cell.
- The new drug is designed to target and destroy cancer cells specifically.
- Research focuses on understanding how a normal cell becomes a cancer cell.
Advanced Usage
- Cancer cell biology: The study of the properties and behaviors of cancer cells.
- Cancer cell line: A population of cancer cells grown in a laboratory for research purposes.
- Scientists used a well-known cancer cell line to test the compound's efficacy.
Variants and Related Words
- Cancerous (adj): Having the properties of cancer; containing or relating to cancer cells.
- The biopsy confirmed the tissue was cancerous.
- Tumor cell: A more general term for a cell within a tumor, which may be benign or malignant. A cancer cell is specifically a malignant tumor cell.
- Malignant cell: A synonym often used interchangeably with "cancer cell."
Synonyms
- Malignant cell
- Neoplastic cell (a cell of a neoplasm, which can be benign or malignant; context often specifies if it is cancerous)
Related Phrases and Compounds
- Cancer cell metastasis: The process by which cancer cells spread from the original tumor to other body parts.
- Cancer cell proliferation: The rapid reproduction and growth of cancer cells.
Noun
-
a cell that is part of a malignant tumor
