Antitumor effect of vesnarinone on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines

Vesnarinone, a quinolinone derivative, induces apoptosis and differentiatio n in some tumor cell lines. We examined the antitumor effect of vesnarinone on three human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines. Vesnarinone supp ressed the proliferation of all three HCC cell lines, but did not induce ap optosis and differentiation. Vesnarinone has also been reported to inhibit both nucleoside and nucleobase transport. Concomitant administration of ves narinone and a de novo nucleotide synthesis inhibitor potentiated the growt h-inhibitory effect of vesnarinone on HCC cells. Vesnarinone may be useful as a new biochemical modulator of anticancer agents.