Decrease in saturation density of mammalian carcinoma cell culture during exposure to bestatin, a clinically applicable agent.

Bestatin, one of the small molecular products of Streptomyces olivoreticuli , and a potential immunostimulator, was shown to decrease the saturation density of murine carcinoma cell culture. The finding may indicate a possibility of direct action of bestatin upon cancer cells presumably resulting in cancer cell redifferention .