Amplification at 11q13-q14 is a common event in cancers from multiple anatomical sites. This complex amplicon has multiple cores and several genes have been put forward as potential "drivers." In this review, based on the technical advancements of the last decade, which resulted in methods allowing for a deeper genomic and functional genomic characterization of amplicons and their drivers, we discuss the current definitions of amplicons and driver genes, the clinical and biological significance of the 11q13-q14 amplicon in distinct types of human cancer, its coamplification partners, and the roles of various genes located within the amplicon as potential "drivers." Finally, we appraise the available data for novel therapies targeting genes mapping to this amplicon.
Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.