What do oncogenes promote when they are mutated?

Mutated oncogenes promote cancer cell growth by driving the uncontrolled proliferation of cells. In their normal state, oncogenes play a role in essential cellular processes, such as growth and division, but when they undergo mutation, they can become hyperactive or constitutively active. This means that they can push cells to grow and divide excessively, leading to tumor formation.

In contrast, normal cell function is supported by the proper regulatory mechanisms that oncogenes are part of, and cellular apoptosis (programmed cell death) is typically promoted by tumor suppressor genes rather than oncogenes. Therefore, the activation of mutated oncogenes disrupts the balance of normal growth control and contributes directly to the development of cancerous tumors. Tumor suppression is the activity of specific genes (tumor suppressor genes) that inhibit cell cycle progression or promote apoptosis, standing in opposition to the effects of mutated oncogenes.