Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun Medicine/Medical.
- the treatment of disease by means of chemicals that have a specific toxic effect upon the disease-producing microorganisms or that selectively destroy cancerous tissue.
noun
- treatment of disease, esp cancer, by means of chemical agentsCompare radiotherapy
1906, from German Chemotherapie, coined by German biochemist Paul Ehrlich (1854-1915), from chemo- + therapie (see therapy).
n.
- The treatment of cancer using specific chemical agents or drugs that are selectively destructive to malignant cells and tissues.
- The treatment of disease using chemical agents or drugs that are selectively toxic to the causative agent of the disease, such as a virus or other microorganism.
- The treatment of disease, especially cancer, using drugs that are destructive to malignant cells and tissues.
- The treatment of disease using chemical agents or drugs that are selectively toxic to the causative agent of the disease, such as a microorganism.
The treatment of disease with chemicals. The term chemotherapy often refers to a kind of treatment for cancer in which chemicals are administered to destroy cancer cells.