Intermediate
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
actionable mutation
A genetic alteration for which targeted therapy options or clinical trials are available.
Full Definition
An actionable mutation is a genetic alteration in a tumor that has established clinical significance, meaning there are FDA-approved targeted therapies, clinical trials, or evidence-based treatment recommendations available. These mutations are typically catalogued in clinical databases and treatment guidelines, with levels of evidence ranging from FDA-approved therapies to investigational treatments. The identification and reporting of actionable mutations is central to precision oncology workflows and requires standardized variant interpretation frameworks.
Usage
Usage note: Often categorized by evidence levels (e.g., Level 1-4) in clinical reporting.
In Context
- "The molecular tumor board identified three actionable mutations that could guide the patient's treatment selection." — Clinical documentation
- "No actionable mutations were detected in the patient's tumor sequencing panel, limiting precision therapy options." — Oncology report
Also known as
targetable mutation
clinically relevant variant
druggable mutation
Contrasted with
variant of unknown significance
benign variant
Don't confuse with
pathogenic mutation
somatic variant