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differentiating agent

(DIH-feh-REN-shee-AY-ting AY-jent)
A substance that causes a cell to change from an immature form to a mature form. In cancer, a differentiating agent may help cancer cells to become more like normal cells and to grow and spread more slowly. Some differentiating agents are being studied in the prevention and treatment of cancer.
Search NCI's Dictionary of Cancer Terms