The onset and aggressiveness of cancer are related to the abnormal behavior of certain genes, known as oncogenes. The best-known of these alterations is mutation, but it is not the only one. Sometimes, within a cell, a very high number of copies of the oncogene appear—tens or even hundreds. This amplification of oncogenes occurs in a significant proportion of solid tumors and may make the tumor more aggressive and prevent the body’s defenses from detecting it, contributing to the development of resistance to treatments.
This article was originally published on MedicalXpress.com
