Dictionary of Cancer Terms
View in Spanish: Linfocito citolítico natural
Natural killer cell (NA-chuh-rul KIH-ler sel)
A type of immune cell that has granules (small particles) with enzymes that can kill tumor cells or cells infected with a virus. A natural killer cell is a type of white blood cell. Also called NK cell and NK-LGL.
Source: National Cancer Institute Dictionary of Cancer Terms, available at www.cancer.gov/dictionary.