Effects of novel 3,4-bisphenylhex(3)enes on cell proliferation in malignant and normal cells

The growth-inhibitory effect of several newly synthesized alkyl derivatives of 3,4-bisphenylhex(3)ene was studied in four tumor cell lines and three healthy primary cell systems. A marked inhibition of cell proliferation was noted in the neoplastic cells but not in the primary systems. No effect on the cytoplasmic or mitotic microtubule system but an increase in the gross level of 5-methylcytosine in nuclear DNA was observed. It is speculated that the selective growth inhibition of tumor cells is due to DNA-hypermethylation.