The Effects of Suramin on Human Adrenocortical Cells In Vitro: Suramin Inhibits Cortisol Secretion and Adrenocortical Cell Growth

Abstract Suramin, a polycyclic and polyanionic drug, has been successfully used in the therapy of inoperable adrenocortical cancer. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of suramin on normal human adrenocortical cells in primary monolayer cultures. The proliferation and the basal, as well as the adrenocorticotropin (ACTH)-stimulated, cortisol secretion of these cells were studied. The data show that suramin decreases basal, as well as ACTH-stimulated, cortisol secretion in a dose-dependent manner ( P P