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Updated: Jan 19, 2026

Mapping the Structure-Function Relationships of Disordered Oncogenic Transcription Factors Using Transcriptomic Analysis
Published on: June 27, 2020
Function of oncogenes in cancer development: a changing paradigm
Carolina Vicente-Dueñas1, Isabel Romero-Camarero, Cesar Cobaleda
1Experimental Therapeutics and Translational Oncology Program, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC/ Universidad de Salamanca, Campus M. de Unamuno s/n, Salamanca, Spain.
Tumour oncogenes reprogram epigenomes, initiating cancer through stem cell changes, not just proliferation. This reveals a new role for oncogenes in cancer origin and suggests novel therapeutic targets.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Tumour-associated oncogenes typically induce uncontrolled cell proliferation and genomic instability.
- Current cancer therapies targeting oncogenes assume they are essential for all tumour cell proliferation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze recent evidence on oncogene function in cancer development.
- To propose an updated model of oncogene function incorporating epigenetic reprogramming.
- To explore new anti-cancer intervention strategies based on this updated model.
Main Methods:
- Review and analysis of existing scientific literature on oncogenes, epigenetics, and cancer development.
- Comparative analysis of current and proposed models of oncogene function.
Main Results:
- Oncogenes are not essential for proliferation in all tumour cell types.
- Oncogenes contribute to cancer by reprogramming the epigenome, initiating tumorigenesis via stem cell reprogramming.
- This uncovers a novel role for oncogenes in the origin of cancer.
Conclusions:
- An updated model of oncogene function explains diverse genotype-phenotype associations in human cancer.
- Oncogene-induced stem cell reprogramming is a key mechanism in tumorigenesis.
- This revised understanding opens new avenues for developing innovative anti-cancer therapies.
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