The invention relates in part to fused tricyclic compounds having certain biological activities that include, but are not limited to, inhibiting cell proliferation, modulating protein kinase activity and modulating polymerase activity. The fused tricyclic compounds of the invention can modulate casein kinase (CK) activity and/or poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP) activity. The invention also relates in part to methods for using such fused tricyclic compounds.