'Bended' 1, 3 or 'linear' 2 pyrrolidino-fused (aza)carbazoles were prepared and screened towards a few cancer-related targets. Whereas 'bended' derivatives I and 3 proved to be weakly toxic, several members of the 'linear' family strongly interact with DNA, especially derivative 28a. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.