noun
- a substance that enhances the carcinogenic effect of another substance, often by promoting tumor development or progression without being carcinogenic on its own
Usage: technical; medical/scientific
Examples
- Certain chemicals act as cocarcinogens, increasing the cancer risk when combined with known carcinogens.
- Researchers discovered that the compound functioned as a cocarcinogen in laboratory studies.
- Alcohol can serve as a cocarcinogen, amplifying the harmful effects of tobacco smoke.
- The study examined how environmental cocarcinogens interact with genetic predisposition.
- Scientists are investigating whether this substance acts as a cocarcinogen in human tissues.