4,9-DIAZAPYRENIUM DICATIONS INDUCE APOPTOSIS IN HUMAN TUMOR-CELLS

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.