Final answer:
True, an agent that inhibits tumor growth is an antitumorigenic agent, working to prevent tumor cells from replicating and tackling the unchecked cell division characteristic of cancer.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, an agent that inhibits tumor development is indeed an antitumorigenic agent. Antitumorigenic agents work by interfering with the processes that allow tumors to grow, such as damaging the DNA of cancer cells or inhibiting the synthesis of new DNA strands, preventing cells from replicating. Tumor growth is a result of unchecked cell division, often due to mutations in genes that link to cell proliferation or the failure of natural defense mechanisms like apoptosis. Antitumorigenic agents may act by restoring these defenses or directly attacking the tumor cells, and they are crucial in cancer treatments, although they must be carefully used to minimize their effects on normal cells which can lead to toxicity issues. Combating cancer often involves a fight against natural biologic processes that are subverted to allow unchecked cell growth and tumor formation.