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Questions About Cancer? 1-800-4-CANCER

NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms

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killer T cell  listen  (KIH-ler ... sel)

  A type of immune cell that can kill certain cells, including foreign cells, cancer cells, and cells infected with a virus. Killer T cells can be separated from other blood cells, grown in the laboratory, and then given to a patient to kill cancer cells. A killer T cell is a type of white blood cell and a type of lymphocyte. Also called cytotoxic T cell and cytotoxic T lymphocyte.