intestinal polyps are benign neoplasms and the first stage in development of colon cancer. these findings support the notion that: a. tumor invasion and metastasis progress more slowly in the gastrointestinal tract. b. apoptosis is triggered by diverse stimuli including excessive growth. c. an accumulation of mutations in specific genes is required for the development of cancer. d. cancers of the colon are more easily diagnosed in the benign form because they can be visualized during colonoscopy.