tumor mutational landscape

Full Definition

A holistic view of the genetic alterations characterizing a particular tumor, including point mutations, insertions, deletions, copy number changes, and structural variants. The tumor mutational landscape encompasses both driver and passenger mutations and provides insights into cancer evolution, therapeutic targets, and resistance mechanisms. This concept is frequently used in precision oncology to describe the complete genomic profile that informs treatment strategies and clinical trial eligibility.

Usage

Usage note: Used to describe comprehensive genomic profiles; distinguish from specific metrics like tumor mutational burden.

In Context

• "The tumor mutational landscape revealed complex genomic rearrangements characteristic of homologous recombination deficiency." — Research publication
• "Understanding the tumor mutational landscape guides precision medicine approaches in advanced cancers." — Clinical review article