Cremophor EL, a polyloxyethylene castor oil derivative used clinically as a parenteral vehicle, inhibits protein kinase c activity in vitro. The tumor promoting agent TPA (12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate) activated protein kinase C and induced phosphorylation of cellular proteins of human myeloblastic leukemia ML-1 cells. Polypeptides of 56 KDa, 44 KDa, 37 KDa, 35 KDa and 31 KDa were particularly phosphorylated in response to TPA activation. However, the phosphorylations of these polypeptides, especially that of 37 KDa, were greatly reduced by treatment of the TPA-activated ML-1 cells with Cremophor EL. Cremophor EL also inhibited the growth of ML-1 cells. On the other hand, the TPA-induced cell differentiation in ML-1, which is considered a separate event from protein kinase C activation, was not affected by Cremophor EL. These studies suggest biological implications for the observed in vitro activity of Cremophor EL. The studies may also provide a mechanism for the Cremophor EL-associated cytotoxicities observed when it is used clinically as a parenteral vehicle.