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Questions About Cancer? 1-800-4-CANCER

NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms

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attenuated  listen  (uh-TEN-yoo-way-ted)

  Weakened or thinned. Attenuated strains of disease-causing bacteria and viruses are often used as vaccines. The weakened strains are used as vaccines because they stimulate a protective immune response while causing no disease or only mild disease in the person receiving the vaccine.