Final answer:
The statement is false because cancer cells are characterized by their uncontrolled cell division, which is higher than that of normal cells. They lack contact inhibition and contain active telomerase, allowing for indefinite proliferation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that cancer cells have a lower rate of proliferation than normal cells is false. In fact, one of the hallmarks of cancer is uncontrolled cell division. Normal cells typically grow and divide until they reach confluence and then undergo contact inhibition, stopping further growth. Cancer cells, on the other hand, lack this ability. They do not stop dividing at confluence and can continue to grow, often piling up in multiple layers. This is partly due to the lack of communication structures like gap junctions and adhesion molecules like cadherins and integrins. In addition, cancer cells can have active telomerase which prevents the shortening of telomeres, thus allowing them to continue to proliferate. Therapies that inhibit telomerase are being studied as potential cancer treatments, as they could stop the proliferation of cancer cells.