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Questions About Cancer? 1-800-4-CANCER

NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms

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intercellular communication  listen  (IN-ter-SEL-yoo-ler kuh-MYOO-nih-KAY-shun)

  The transfer of information from one cell to another. Cells signal each other by direct contact with each other or by the release of a substance from one cell that is taken up by another cell. Intercellular communication is important for cells to grow and work normally. Cells that lose the ability to respond to signals from other cells may become cancer cells. Also called cell-cell signaling and cell-to-cell signaling.