au·to·crine \ˈȯd.ōkrin\adjective Etymology:aut- + -crine (as in endocrine) : of, relating to, promoted by, or being a substance secreted by a cell and acting on surface receptors of the same cell < autocrine stimulation of T-cell growth > < autocrine growth of some breast cancers — M.E.Lippman > — compare paracrine herein