Tubulozole is a stereospecific microtubule inhibitor. Structurally it is related to the benzimidazole carbamates by its carbamate moiety, which is essential for the activity of both types of compounds. The compound exists as a cis-isomer called tubulozole-C (R 46 846) and as a trans-isomer called tubulozole-T. The cis-isomer appears to be a potent and specific microtubule inhibitor, the trans-isomer being inactive at 100 times higher concentrations. At low concentrations, both isomers of tubulozole (C, T) inhibit Plasmodium falciparum but only tubulozole C inhibits mammalian cells. Since tubulozole C prevents polymerization of mammalian tubulin whereas tubulozole T does not, the antimalarial action of tubulozoles may not involve microtubules. Tubulozole-C, a new synthetic anticancer drug, interfered with the structure and function of microtubules in both interphase and mitotic cells. The activity of Tubulozole-C in experimental tumor systems can be explained partly by a direct antimitotic effect and partly by the disintegration of the normal subcellular organization of the nondividing cells. At concentrations which affect the microtubule system, tubulozole-C arrested directional migration of transformed cells and malignant invasion in a three-dimensional organ culture system. Investigations in vivo show that malignant L1210 leukemia cells are more susceptible to the antimicrotubular effect of tubulozole-C than are the normal leukocytes of the host. The trans-isomer of tubulozole (tubulozole-T, R 48 265), which has no antitumor activity in vivo, did not affect the microtubule system of cells in vitro or their capacity for directional migration or for malignant invasion.