chemotherapy

chemotherapy definition - medical

che·mo·ther·a·py (kēˌmō-thĕrˈə-pē)

noun
  1. The treatment of cancer using specific chemical agents or drugs that are selectively destructive to malignant cells and tissues.
  2. The treatment of disease using chemical agents or drugs that are selectively toxic to the causative agent of the disease, such as a virus or other microorganism.

Related Forms:

  • cheˌmo·therˌa·peuˈtic (-pyo͞oˈtĭk) adjective

Related Forms:

  • cheˌmo·therˈa·pist noun

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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