Objective  This work aimed to investigate the effects of the new polyamine analog tetra-butyl propanediamine (TBP) on the proliferation, apoptosis, and migration of human bladder carcinoma T24 cells and its potential mechanism.

  Methods  Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium was used to analyze cell proliferation, and flow cytometry was performed to assay the cell cycles. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotin-dUTP nick end labeling assay was used to identify the apoptotic cells. Western blot analysis was used to evaluate the expression of apoptosis-related proteins. The Transwell technique was used to analyze cell migration.

  Results  TBP significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of T24 cells, and the inhibitory effect was time and dose dependent. The flow cytometry results indicated that TBP interfered with the cell cycles and inhibited G1/S transition, which led to increased cell percentage in the G1 and G2 phases, as well as decreased cell percentage in the S phase. Meanwhile, the number of apoptotic cells significantly increased. After TBP treatment, observation of the typical behavior of apoptotic cells revealed that the contents of the pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and cytochrome C significantly increased in the cytosol.

  Conclusion  TBP can inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of human bladder carcinoma T24 cells by interfering with the cell cycle and activating the mitochondrion-mediated apoptotic pathway.