Dictionary of Cancer Terms
View in Spanish: Célula T citotóxica
Cytotoxic T cell (SY-toh-TOK-sik sel)
A type of immune cell that can kill certain cells, including foreign cells, cancer cells, and cells infected with a virus. Cytotoxic T cells can be separated from other blood cells, grown in the laboratory, and then given to a patient to kill cancer cells. A cytotoxic T cell is a type of white blood cell and a type of lymphocyte. Also called cytotoxic T lymphocyte and killer T cell.
Source: National Cancer Institute Dictionary of Cancer Terms, available at www.cancer.gov/dictionary.