# Talc

National Cancer Institute

## Source

National Cancer Institute. Talc. NCI Thesaurus. Code C854.

Finely-powdered native hydrous magnesium silicate. When administered into the pleural space, talc initiates an inflammatory reaction, resulting in adhesion of the visceral pleura to the parietal pleura and fibrosis, thereby effectively closing the pleural space and preventing further accumulation of fluid. This agent exhibits no intrinsic antineoplastic activity. (NCI04)