Apoptosis - programmed cell death.

Proto-oncogenes - normal cellular genes that contribute to the production of cancer when their activity is affected.

Stochastic hypothesis - virtually any cell type could become transformed given the occurrence of a proto-oncogene mutation.

Cancer stem cell (CSC) - tumorigenic cell possessing stem cell-like properties that has the ability to give rise to all cell types of a given cancer.

Embryonal rest hypothesis - Hypothesis of Rudolph Virchow that tumors arise from residual embryonic tissues.

Chapter 6 Key Terms

Select key terms are defined below.  For a complete list of glossary terms please refer to the book.