title: On the origin of human tumors.
abstract: A proposal is made to extend the commitment theory of cellular aging to the process of tumorigenesis. Indirect data are cited in support of a scheme whereby human tumors arise from a small number of unique cells which are termed "uncommitted." The process of tumorigenesis as described is both multistep and reversible.
mesh_terms: D002455:Cell Division; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology