oncogenic
adjective
on·co·gen·ic
ˌäŋ-kō-ˈje-nik 
1
: relating to tumor formation
2
: tending to cause tumors
Examples of oncogenic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Recurrent damage within cells results in apoptosis, a rescue mechanism preventing oncogenic transformation but also triggering a cascade of events that promote aging and aging-related disorders.
—
Salvatore Viscomi, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2023
Senescence is a natural process of replicative arrest that prevents an oncogenic transformation of aberrant cells.
—Salvatore Viscomi, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2023
Viruses and parasites are indeed capable of causing oncogenic infection, whether through their own virulence or as a result of the body’s immunological response.
—Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 10 Apr. 2011
The oncogenic mutation in the proto-oncogene converts one of the amino acids in the cell, glycine, into cystine.
—Connor Lynch, Discover Magazine, 26 Oct. 2022
Several strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause cervical cancer, and two vaccines directed against the currently most important oncogenic strains (i.e., the HPV-16 and HPV-18 serotypes) have been developed.
—Jeanne Lenzer, Discover Magazine, 23 Nov. 2011
Is this a safety measure, to minimize the risk of mutagenesis and oncogenic transformation?
—David Warmflash, Discover Magazine, 29 Apr. 2016
Scientists can’t fully control where in the body its genes are introduced; Bluebird tried to determine whether its gene had been inserted into an oncogenic location—a place with cancer-causing potential.
—Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2022
It can also be caused by any number of pathologic or environmental stresses, such as oncogenic (cancer) activation, radiation, inflammation, nutrient deprivation, and exposure to different chemicals.
—Gabriel A. Silva, Forbes, 1 Feb. 2022
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Salvatore Viscomi, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2023
Senescence is a natural process of replicative arrest that prevents an oncogenic transformation of aberrant cells.
—Salvatore Viscomi, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2023
Viruses and parasites are indeed capable of causing oncogenic infection, whether through their own virulence or as a result of the body’s immunological response.
—Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 10 Apr. 2011
The oncogenic mutation in the proto-oncogene converts one of the amino acids in the cell, glycine, into cystine.
—Connor Lynch, Discover Magazine, 26 Oct. 2022
Several strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause cervical cancer, and two vaccines directed against the currently most important oncogenic strains (i.e., the HPV-16 and HPV-18 serotypes) have been developed.
—Jeanne Lenzer, Discover Magazine, 23 Nov. 2011
Is this a safety measure, to minimize the risk of mutagenesis and oncogenic transformation?
—David Warmflash, Discover Magazine, 29 Apr. 2016
Scientists can’t fully control where in the body its genes are introduced; Bluebird tried to determine whether its gene had been inserted into an oncogenic location—a place with cancer-causing potential.
—Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2022
It can also be caused by any number of pathologic or environmental stresses, such as oncogenic (cancer) activation, radiation, inflammation, nutrient deprivation, and exposure to different chemicals.
—Gabriel A. Silva, Forbes, 1 Feb. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Oncogenic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oncogenic. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
oncogenic
adjective
on·co·gen·ic
-ˈjen-ik
variants
also oncogenous
1
: relating to tumor formation
2
: tending to cause tumors
an oncogenic virus
oncogenic tars
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