Dictionary of Cancer Terms
View in Spanish: Fagocito
Phagocyte (FA-goh-site)
A type of immune cell that can surround and kill microorganisms, ingest foreign material, and remove dead cells. It can also boost immune responses. Monocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils are phagocytes. A phagocyte is a type of white blood cell.
Source: National Cancer Institute Dictionary of Cancer Terms, available at www.cancer.gov/dictionary.