Final answer:
Cancer is caused by mutations in genes that regulate the cell cycle, leading to uncontrolled cell division. Multiple mutations need to accumulate over time for tumorigenesis to occur. Age and environmental factors also contribute to the development of cancer.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cancer is a result of mutations in genes that control the cell cycle, such as tumor-suppressor genes and proto-oncogenes. These mutations prevent normal cell cycle control, proliferation control, and apoptosis, leading to uncontrolled cell division and tumor formation. In order for tumorigenesis to occur, several mutations impairing these control mechanisms need to accumulate over time. Additionally, age and environmental factors play a role in the development of cancer.