LAZAROIDS INHIBIT PROLIFERATION OF CULTURED HUMAN ASTROCYTOMA-CELLS

Lazaroids (or 21-aminosteroids) are potent lipid peroxidation inhibito rs and are more potent antioxidants than steroids which have been show n to suppress tumor proliferation. The effects of two lazaroid compoun ds (U-75389G and U-83836E) were tested on the proliferation of a human brain astrocytoma cell line U-373 MG. Both lazaroids had dose-depende nt growth-inhibitory effects on the proliferation of U-373 MG. For pur poses of comparison, two steroids (methylprednisolone and dexamethason e) and a highly potent antioxidant (alpha-tocopherol) were tested unde r similar experimental conditions and were found to have antiprolifera tive effects as well, although at higher dose ranges. As cell growth-i nhibitors, lazaroids are more effective than alpha-tocopherol while th ey are advantageous over glucocorticoids for their actions are devoid of the usual glucocorticoid side-effects.