Structural Features of Antitumorigenic Corticoids

Abstract

The antifibromatogenic potency of deoxycorticosterone—prevention of œstrogen-induced abdominal fibroids—diminishes through the substitution O=C₁₁ (Kendall's compound A) and especially through OH– –C₁₇ (Reichstein's compound S)¹. The anti-fibromatogenic potency of cortisone,which differs from deoxycorticosterone by both these substitutions, is also strikingly diminished; there were fibroids even with as much as 1,000 µgm. of cortisone acetate per day. But, on the other hand, there apparently was some antifibromatogenic activity of compound F, or 17-hydroxy-corticosterone (OH– –C₁₇ and OH—C₁₁); we had thus to raise the question of a ‘protective’ action of OH—C₁₁ against OH– –C₁₇. However, in view of the variations of the fibrous tumoral effect met with in similar experiments, and especially in view of the small number of experiments performed with compound F, the conclusion as to the supposed ‘protective’ action of OH—C₁₁ against OH– –C₁₇ remained doubtful¹. In the meantime, we have been able to settle this question in what seems to be a definite manner, thanks to the kindness of Messrs. Merck and Co., who put at our disposal the necessary quantities of compound F acetate.