Definition of Colony-stimulating factor
Colony-stimulating factor: A laboratory-made agent
similar to a substance in the body that stimulates the production of
blood cells.
Treatment with colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) can help the blood-
forming tissue recover from the effects of chemotherapy and radiation
therapy.
The CSFs include granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSF)
and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factors (GM-CSF).
Last Editorial Review: 8/26/1999
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