tumor mutation burden (TMB)

Tumor mutation burden (TMB) refers to the total number of genetic mutations found within a cancer's DNA. Think of it as a measure of how many changes or "mistakes" are present in the tumor’s genetic code. A higher TMB often indicates a greater number of abnormal proteins, which can make the tumor more visible to the immune system. This information helps doctors predict how well a patient might respond to certain immunotherapy treatments, as cancers with high TMB are often more responsive to those therapies.