Previously N-(8-(3-ethynylphenoxy)octyl-1-deoxynojirimycin 1 has been shown to display properties associated with inhibition of angiogenesis. Here we examined the anti-tumourigenic role of 1 in a lung cancer cell line. This agent altered cell surface oligosaccharide expression and inhibited the growth of A549 cells by inducing G1 phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Furthermore, stress fibre assembly and cell migration in A549 cells was markedly suppressed by 1.