CWC-8 is a new synthesized novel 2-phenyl-4-quinolone compound in our laboratory which has demonstrated potential antitumor activity. In this study, we have defined the viability inhibition and apoptotic mechanisms of CWC-8 on human osteogenic sarcoma U-2 OS cells. According to the MTT assay, the cell viability was inhibited by CWC-8 in a dose- and time-dependent manner, with an IC(50) of 4.97+/-0.24 microM. CWC-8 treatment induced G(2)/M arrest and apoptosis in U-2 OS cells by cell cycle and flow cytometry analysis. It also profoundly caused a decrease in polymerized tubulin levels by in vitro tubulin polymerization assay which indicated that the microtubular cytoskeleton appears to be one of the cellular targets in response to CWC-8. Western blotting and CDK1 kinase assay showed that CWC-8 treatment caused a time-dependent increase of Cyclin B and CDK1 protein levels and activity during G(2)/M arrest. CWC-8 treatment also caused a time-dependent increase in Fas/CD95, FADD, cytosolic cytochrome c, caspase-8/-9/-3 active form, Apaf-1, AIF, Bax protein levels, and decrease in Bcl-2 protein level. CWC-8 also promoted caspase-8/-9 and -3 activities; however, pretreatment of cells with pan-caspase, caspase-8/-9 and -3 inhibitors led to reduced cell growth inhibition action. Taken together, these findings show CWC-8 could be a potential candidate for cancer therapy.