A patient has been told by his physician that the tumor in his bowel is poorly differentiated. On what knowledge should the nurse base the response to the patient's question?
a) Cancer cells develop a new gene, called an oncogene, which promotes continuous, immature reproduction of cells.
b) Poorly differentiated cells are fetal cells that do not have time to mature as a result of the rapid division of malignant cells.
c) Normal cells revert to a more fetal appearance and function, probably because of mutation of cellular genes called proto-oncogenes.
d) Normal mature cells with specific functions become immature, nonfunctioning cells when chemical agents, such as oncogenes, cause cell mutation.