Aurintricarboxylic acid decreases proliferative potential of SKOV3 and MCF7 human carcinoma cells

The effect of aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA) on cell growth and proliferativ e capacity was studied in human ovarian SKOV3 and breast MCF7 carcinoma cel ls. ATA moderately inhibited cell growth measured by a Neutral red assay af ter a 24-hour incubation of the cells in the presence of ATA. The ATA-treat ed cells displayed a markedly decreased capacity to proliferate, as was evi dent from a colony formation assay. The initial and delayed anti proliferat ive effects of ATA were dose-dependent. Together, the results indicated tha t ATA offers the potential of being recognized as an anti-tumor drug, at le ast in certain types of cancers.