A gene that has the potential to cause cancer is referred to as what?

A gene that has the potential to cause cancer is known as an oncogene. Oncogenes are derived from proto-oncogenes, which are normal genes involved in cell growth and division. When these proto-oncogenes undergo mutations or are overexpressed, they can turn into oncogenes, leading to unregulated cell proliferation and the development of cancer.

Oncogenes contribute to cancer progression by promoting excessive cell division, inhibiting normal cell death, or contributing to the migration and invasion of cancer cells. They often encode proteins that push the cell cycle forward or facilitate processes like angiogenesis, allowing tumors to grow and spread.

Understanding the role of oncogenes is essential for cancer biology since targeting these genes can form the basis for various treatments in oncology, such as targeted therapies designed to inhibit the function of the oncogenic proteins they produce.