A gene in a cancer cell that causes its growth to be uncontrolled. A regulatory gene that has changed and is responsible for uncontrolled growth.
n. a gene in viruses (v-onc) and mammalian cells (c-onc) that can cause cancer. It results from the mutation of a normal gene (a *proto-oncogene). An oncogene is capable of both initiation and continuation of malignant transformation of normal cells. It probably produces proteins (*growth factors) regulating cell division that, under certain conditions, become uncontrolled and may transform a normal cell to a malignant state.
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