In general, ovarian germ cell tumors develop when the DNA in the cells in the ovary changes or mutates. Then the cells start to grow and divide at a faster rate than cells in normal tissue. Some of the genes involved are proto-oncogenes, which normally control cell growth and division. Mutated proto-oncogenes are called oncogenes. KIT is one such proto-oncogene that when mutated allows for abnormal growth and division in ovarian germ cells and the formation of an ovarian germ cell tumor. KIT mutations are associated with dysgerminomas, the most common type of germ cell tumor.
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