alkylating agent

alkylating agent definition - medical

al·kyl·at·ing agent (ălˈkə-lāˌtĭng)

noun
Any of various highly reactive chemical compounds that bond with various nucleophilic groups in nucleic acids and proteins and cause mutagenic, carcinogenic, or cytotoxic effects.

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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