What Does Neoplastic Mean?

The term neoplastic transformation is defined as the conversion of normal cells into tumour cells. This is usually the result of a genetic change, which is also known as mutagenesis. The same term is also used to describe the genetic changes or modification that bacteria undergo when they are used for the purpose of research in the field of biotechnology. The word neoplastic transformation is related to such terms as epigenetic changes, genetic toxicology, genotoxic, mutation, mutagenesis and tumour.

Neoplastic is an adjective. It means of or pertaining to or constituting a neoplasm or neoplasia. It means the abnormal and uncontrolled growth of new cells. Neoplasia is literally defined as an abnormal and disorganised growth of neoplasms in a tissue or organ. It usually forms a distinct mass, which leads to tumours. It is incorrect to use the terms neoplasia and cancer interchangeably, though cancer specifically refers to malignant neoplasia. Neoplasia can either be benign or malignant.

It can be both it is an abnormal grow of tissue into a mass or tumor which can be benign, pre-malignant, or malignant. Benign is non-cancer. Pre-malignant is cells that can turn into cancer and need to be watched or removed and malignant is cancer.

Neoplastic comes from the word neoplasia, which means an abnormal growth of cells in a tissue or organ resulting in tumors. These may be benign, precancerous or cancerous like cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, which is a pre-cancerous lesion of the uterine cervix. It is better to undergo periodic checkups to monitor the condition of these tumors.