Sterols as anticancer agents: synthesis of ring-B oxygenated steroids, cytotoxic profile, and comprehensive SAR analysis

Abstract

The cytotoxicity of oxysterols was systematically studied in tumor and normal cells. Synthetic strategies to prepare this library included oxidations at ring B and a new method to yield 6β-hemiphthalates directly from Δ(5)-steroids. Most oxysterols were cytotoxic and showed selectivity toward cancer cells, LAMA-84 cells (leukemia) being particularly sensitive to 4, 8, 22, and 27 (IC(50) < 5.6 μM). The structural requirements to induce selective toxicity are discussed to shed light on the development of new anticancer drugs.