SELECTIVE INHIBITION OF IN VITRO CELL GROWTH BY THE ANTI-TUMOUR DRUG UKRAIN

HOHENWARTER O.1, STRUTZENBERGER K.1, KATINGER H.1, LIEPINS A.2, NOWICKY J.W.3

1) Institute of Applied Microbiology, University of Agriculture, Nussdorfer Lände 11, 1190 Vienna.
2) Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland, A1B 3V6 Canada.
3) Ukrainian Anti-Cancer Institute, Margaretenstrasse 7, 1040 Vienna, Austria.

Summary: The inhibitory effect of Ukrain on malignant cells and on normal cells, in vitro, has been compared. To obtain a 50% inhibition of cell growth, a tenfold concentration had to be used with normal endothelial cells compared to a human osteosarcoma cell line. Hybrids of the two cell types showed nearly the same sensitivity as normal cells. A laser scanning microscope showed a high uptake of Ukrain in malignant cells, while the content in normal cells under the same experimental conditions was substantially lower.