cytostatic

adjective

cy·​to·​stat·​ic ˌsī-tə-ˈsta-tik 

: tending to slow or inhibit cellular activity and multiplication

cytostatic treatment of tumor cells

cytostatic noun

Word History

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

cytostatic

1 of 2 adjective

cy·​to·​stat·​ic ˌsīt-ə-ˈstat-ik 

: tending to slow or inhibit cellular activity and multiplication

cytostatic treatment of tumor cells

TNF has a cytolytic effect on approximately one third of tumors tested, a cytostatic effect on another third, and no effect on the remaining third.

—Scientific American Medicine

cytostatically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

cytostatic

2 of 2 noun

: a cytostatic agent