Intermediate
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
driver mutation
A genetic alteration that directly contributes to cancer development and progression.
Full Definition
Driver mutations are genetic alterations that confer a growth advantage to cancer cells and are causally implicated in oncogenesis. Unlike passenger mutations, which occur randomly during tumor evolution without functional consequence, driver mutations affect key cellular pathways controlling proliferation, apoptosis, or DNA repair. Common examples include KRAS mutations in colorectal cancer and EGFR mutations in lung cancer. Understanding driver mutations is essential for targeted therapy selection and precision oncology approaches.
Usage
Usage note: Always distinguish from passenger mutations in genomic analyses.
In Context
- "The tumor harbored a driver mutation in the PIK3CA gene." — Pathology report
- "Driver mutation analysis guided therapeutic decision-making." — Treatment protocol
Also known as
oncogenic mutation
causal mutation
Contrasted with
passenger mutation
Don't confuse with
passenger mutation
germline mutation