oncogene
noun
on·co·gene ˈäŋ-kō-ˌjēn 
: a gene having the potential to cause a normal cell to become cancerous
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Traditional treatments use mutation location To attempt to answer this question, our research team chose to focus on one oncogene in lung cancer, EGFR, or epidermal growth factor receptor. 
Jacqulyne Robichaux, The Conversation, 25 Oct. 2021 The mutation that transforms KRAS into an oncogene locks the protein into an active state, permanently bound to GTP, causing cells to grow uncontrollably. William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 16 June 2021 In the case of cancer, this means some cells wind up with more oncogenes than the others. San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2019 The cancer genes, called oncogenes, were not malignant in themselves, Dr. Leder and his research team concluded. Matt Schudel, Washington Post, 15 Feb. 2020 Daughter cells with more copies of these oncogenes grow faster, as do their descendants, Mischel said. San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2019 The drug targets overexpressed estrogen receptors that can be predicted by the Her-2/Neu oncogene, which was discovered more than a decade earlier. Scientific American, 2 Oct. 2019 This allows mutated cancer-promoting genes called oncogenes to activate cell surface receptors, molecular portals to the cell’s interior. San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 July 2019 This drug, eFT226, blocks translation of certain oncogenes, including MYC, BCL2, cyclin D1 and CDKs 4/6. Bradley J. Fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, 24 July 2017 See More
Jacqulyne Robichaux, The Conversation, 25 Oct. 2021 The mutation that transforms KRAS into an oncogene locks the protein into an active state, permanently bound to GTP, causing cells to grow uncontrollably. William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 16 June 2021 In the case of cancer, this means some cells wind up with more oncogenes than the others. San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2019 The cancer genes, called oncogenes, were not malignant in themselves, Dr. Leder and his research team concluded. Matt Schudel, Washington Post, 15 Feb. 2020 Daughter cells with more copies of these oncogenes grow faster, as do their descendants, Mischel said. San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2019 The drug targets overexpressed estrogen receptors that can be predicted by the Her-2/Neu oncogene, which was discovered more than a decade earlier. Scientific American, 2 Oct. 2019 This allows mutated cancer-promoting genes called oncogenes to activate cell surface receptors, molecular portals to the cell’s interior. San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 July 2019 This drug, eFT226, blocks translation of certain oncogenes, including MYC, BCL2, cyclin D1 and CDKs 4/6. Bradley J. Fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, 24 July 2017 See More Word History
Etymology
onco- + gene
First Known Use
1969, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
oncogene
noun
on·co·gene ˈäŋ-kō-ˌjēn
: a gene having the potential to cause a normal cell to become cancerous