Methyl (5-(2-thienylcarbonyl)-1H-benzimidazole-2-yl) carbamate, (R17934), a synthetic microtubule inhibitor, prevents malignant invasion in vitro.

The effect of malignant invasion of methyl (5-(2-thienylcarbonyl)-1H-benzimidazole-2-yl) carbamate, (R17934), a microtubule inhibitor, was examined in organotypical co-cultures of mouse sarcoma virus transformed cells (MO4) and embryonic chick tissues. In contrast with control cultures, 1 microgram/ml R17934 prevented invasion of MO4 cells into the host tissue. Since mitostatic doses of 5-fluorouracil did not inhibit invasion, we presumed that the anti-invasive properties of R17934 were correlated with a loss of microtubule mediated directional cell migration.