cytostasis
Sign in to saveCytostasis (cyto – cell; stasis – stoppage) refers to the inhibition of cell growth and proliferation. A cytostatic agent is a cellular component or drug that prevents cells from dividing, thereby suppressing proliferation; in some contexts, prolonged cytostasis may lead to cell death.
~3 min read
Encyclopedic overview
4 sectionsContents
- Activators
- Medical uses
- See also
- References
Cytostasis (cyto – cell; stasis – stoppage) refers to the inhibition of cell growth and proliferation. A cytostatic agent is a cellular component or drug that prevents cells from dividing, thereby suppressing proliferation; in some contexts, prolonged cytostasis may lead to cell death.
Cytostasis is essential for the development and maintenance of structured multicellular organisms. Without regulation of cell growth and division, organized tissues and organs would not be possible. Cytostatic drugs are widely used in the chemotherapy of cancer, as well as in the treatment of certain skin diseases and infections, although they may also affect normal, healthy cells and tissues. Certain active hygienic products also contain cytostatic substances.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “cytostasis” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.