Suramin selectively inhibits carcinoma cell growth that is dependent on extracellular polyamines.

Polyamines are necessary for tumour cell growth. Inhibition of endogenous polyamine biosynthesis results in compensatory up-regulation of polyamine uptake. Here, the combined effect of suramin and the polyamine biosynthesis inhibitor alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) on human carcinoma cell proliferation was studied. Suramin selectively inhibited the growth of tumour cells made dependent on extracellular polyamines by DFMO-treatment. In an animal tumour model, low non-toxic doses of suramin resulted in a 2-fold increase in DFMO tumour growth reduction. Moreover, suramin bound strongly to polyamine-agarose and significantly inhibited polyamine uptake in DFMO-treated cells. Our results indicate that non-toxic doses of suramin augment tumour growth inhibition by DFMO, and that a combination of these well-studied anticancer drugs may represent an additional strategy for cancer treatment.