Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner (AOCNP) Certification Practice Test 2025 - Free AOCNP Practice Questions and Study Guide

The main mechanism of action of antineoplastic agents is to inhibit the growth and replication of cancer cells. This approach is fundamental to cancer treatment, as these agents are specifically designed to target and disrupt the processes that allow cancer cells to proliferate uncontrollably. By interfering with various stages of the cell cycle, antineoplastic drugs can prevent cells from dividing and multiplying, ultimately reducing tumor size and spreading.

This is in contrast to options that suggest stimulating cell division, which would be counterproductive in cancer treatment, where the goal is to stop the rapid and uncontrolled division typical of cancer cells. Inducing apoptosis in normal cells would also be undesirable, as it would result in harm to healthy tissues. Enhancing vascularization is not a primary action of antineoplastic agents; rather, some cancer treatments aim to inhibit tumor angiogenesis to cut off the blood supply to tumors, further underscoring the importance of targeting the growth and replication of cancer cells specifically.