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Many cells undergo programmed cell death, or apoptosis, during fetal development. Apoptosis also may occur when a cell becomes damaged or deregulated, as is the case during tumour development and other pathological processes. Thus, when functioning properly, the body can induce apoptosis to rid itself of cancer cells. Not all cancer cells succumb in that manner, however. Some find ways to escape apoptosis. Two mutations identified in human tumours lead to a loss of programmed cell death. One mutation inactivates the p53 gene, which normally can trigger apoptosis. The second mutation affects a proto-oncogene called BCL-2, which codes for a ...(100 of 21846 words)