In an effort to investigate the role of creatine kinase and its substrates in malignancy we have tested the effect of cyclocreatine [1-carboxymethyl-2-iminoimidazolidine (CCr)] on the growth of tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. CCr is phosphorylated by creatine kinase to yield a synthetic phosphagen [(N-phosphorylcyclocreatine (CCr approximately P)] with thermodynamic and kinetic properties distinct from those of creatine phosphate. We show that CCr accumulates as CCr approximately P in tumor cells expressing a high level of creatine kinase, and that the accumulation of this phosphagen is detrimental to tumor cell growth. Tumor cell lines expressing a low level of creatine kinase accumulate much less CCr approximately P, and consequently are growth inhibited only at higher concentrations of CCr. When these resistant cells are transfected with a creatine kinase B expression vector, they express creatine kinase, accumulate CCr approximately P, and are growth inhibited. In vivo, in nude mouse xenografts, the rate of growth of a high creatine kinase expressing tumor cell line is inhibited in animals fed 1% CCr. Our results indicate that CCr inhibits the growth of tumor cells in vitro and in vivo.