Antiproliferative effects of an organic extract from the marine diatom Skeletonema costatum (Grev.) Cleve. Against a non-small-cell bronchopulmonary carcinoma line (NSCLC-N6).

An organic extract of the marine diatom Skeletonema costatum was studied in vitro for its effect on asynchronous cells of a human non-small-cell bronchoplumanory carcinoma line (NSCLC-N6). Cell growth appeared to be inhibited in the G 1 phase of the cell cycle, and kinetic studies in pretreated cells showed that this growth arrest was irreversible. These events are related to a terminal maturation induction.