We investigated the antiproliferative effects of two planar 4,9-diazap
yrenium hydrogenasulphates against human malignant MiaPaCa 2 (pancreat
ic carcinoma), Hep 2 (laryngeal carcinoma) and human normal fibroblast
s (WI 38) cell lines. The tested compounds were very potent in inhibit
ing the growth of the treated cell lines. Treatment with molar concent
rations of the substances (10(-4)-10(-7)M) caused growth inhibition by
more than 50%. The morphological changes of treated cells were also o
bserved. Cells became smaller, with condensed chromatin and fragmented
nuclei, the characteristics of dying cells. The identification of DNA
-fragmentation and the appearance of chromatin aggregation lends us to
assume the tested substances induced apoptosis of the investigated tu
mor cell lines.