Oncogene

What it is

An oncogene is a gene that, when overactive or abnormally activated, promotes cancer development and growth. Oncogenes typically arise from normal genes (proto-oncogenes) involved in cell growth that become hyperactive through mutation, amplification, or fusion. Several oncogenes are involved in gliomas.

Understanding Oncogene

Normal cells have proto-oncogenes that help control growth in a regulated way. When such a gene becomes abnormally activated — for example, through a mutation (BRAF V600E), extra gene copies (EGFR amplification), or a fusion (KIAA1549::BRAF) — it becomes an oncogene that continuously drives growth. In gliomas, oncogene activation is a common mechanism of tumor development. The practical importance is that some oncogenes are "druggable": targeted therapies can block the overactive oncogene (such as BRAF inhibitors for BRAF V600E). Oncogenes work opposite to tumor-suppressor genes, which normally restrain growth. Understanding oncogenes clarifies how overactive growth genes contribute to gliomas and can serve as treatment targets.

Why it matters

Understanding oncogenes helps patients and families see how overactive growth genes drive gliomas — and why some, like BRAF, can be blocked by targeted drugs.