If a mutation disables a growth factor receptor in cancer cells, but they continue dividing rapidly despite limited nutrient availability, which consequence is most likely?

💡 Explanation

Cancer cells often bypass normal growth factor signaling by accumulating mutations that allow them to override cell cycle checkpoints. Mitotic slippage allows cells to exit mitosis without proper division, because the checkpoint mechanisms are non-functional; therefore, checkpoint override is the correct answer, rather than autophagy, contact inhibition, or telomerase activity, which are less direct consequences of growth factor receptor mutations.

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