The antiproliferative action of two synthetic compounds, isatine-b-thiocarbohydrazone (IsTCH) and N-ethyl isatine-beta-thiocarbohydrazone (N-Et-IsTCH), towards healthy human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and two neoplastic cell lines in vitro, was investigated. IsTCH and N-Et-IsTCH were dissolved in DMSO and then diluted with nutrient medium to desired final concentration. Target cells were PBMC, as well as human cervix carcinoma - HeLa cells, and murine melanoma B16 cells. Five different concentrations (3 microM to 50 microM) of investigated agents were applied on target cells. Cell survival was determined 72 h after the agent's action using MTT test. Results obtained showed that both investigated compounds exerted a dose dependent antiproliferative action to neoplastic cell lines. Their action was only cytostatic; trypan blue exclusion test did not show any sign of direct drug cytotoxicity when drugs concentration were less than 50 microM. ICs50 +/- SD for IsTCH antiproliferative action were 61.69 +/- 4.25 microM for HeLa cells; 34.1 +/- 7.15 microM for B16 cells: 17.62 +/- 7.11 microM for nonstimulated and 30.0 +/- 9.46 microM for stimulated (by 5 mg/ml PHA) PBMC. ICs50 +/- SD for the action of N-Et-IsTCH were 21.86 +/- 1.77 microM for HeLa cells; 10.37 +/- 1.55 microM for B16 cells; >47 microM for both, nonstimulated and for stimulated, PBMC. Nonstimulated human PBMC appeared to be the most sensitive to the cytostatic IsTCH action; while HeLa cells were the most resistant. N-Et-IsTCH showed more than two or five fold stronger antiproliferative effect toward B16 cells than on HeLa or PBMC cells, respectively, and more than three times intensive activity compared to IsTCH, indicating specificity of N-Et-IsTCH towards inhibition of melanoma cell growth. While increasing concentrations of IsTCH led to decrease in the the PBMC induced suppression of HeLa cell survival; N-Et-Is-TCH in the difference from IsTCH, in dose dependent way contributed to the PBMC induced suppression of HeLa cell survival. In conclusion, the activity of N-Et-Istch on malignant melanoma cells deserves further investigation.