17α-Ethynyl-3α-androstanediol (developmental code names HE-3235, Apoptone), also known as 17α-ethynyl-5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol, is a

synthetic Synthetic things are composed of multiple parts, often with the implication that they are artificial. In particular, 'synthetic' may refer to: Science * Synthetic chemical or compound, produced by the process of chemical synthesis * Synthetic o ...

androstane Androstane is a C19 steroidal hydrocarbon with a gonane core. Androstane can exist as either of two isomers, known as 5α-androstane and 5β-androstane. File:androstane.png, 5α-Androstane File:androstane 5beta.png, 5β-Androstane Pharmacology ...

steroid A steroid is a biologically active organic compound with four rings arranged in a specific molecular configuration. Steroids have two principal biological functions: as important components of cell membranes that alter membrane fluidity; and a ...

and a 17α-substituted

derivative In mathematics, the derivative of a function of a real variable measures the sensitivity to change of the function value (output value) with respect to a change in its argument (input value). Derivatives are a fundamental tool of calculus. F ...

of 3α-androstanediol which was never marketed.http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:Jy1DYIHEUtQJ:adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800025305 It was under development for the treatment of

prostate cancer Prostate cancer is cancer of the prostate. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancerous tumor worldwide and is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related mortality among men. The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system that sur ...

but was discontinued. 17α-Ethynyl-3α-androstanediol itself shows very low

affinity Affinity may refer to: Commerce, finance and law * Affinity (law), kinship by marriage * Affinity analysis, a market research and business management technique * Affinity Credit Union, a Saskatchewan-based credit union * Affinity Equity Partn ...

for

steroid receptor Steroid hormone receptors are found in the nucleus, cytosol, and also on the plasma membrane of target cells. They are generally intracellular receptors (typically cytoplasmic or nuclear) and initiate signal transduction for steroid hormones which ...

s, including the , , , , and , and its

mechanism of action In pharmacology, the term mechanism of action (MOA) refers to the specific biochemical interaction through which a drug substance produces its pharmacological effect. A mechanism of action usually includes mention of the specific molecular targe ...

is not well-characterized. It produces 5α-dihydroethisterone (5α-dihydro-17α-ethynyltestosterone), a

ligand In coordination chemistry, a ligand is an ion or molecule (functional group) that binds to a central metal atom to form a coordination complex. The bonding with the metal generally involves formal donation of one or more of the ligand's electr ...

of several

steroid hormone receptor Steroid hormone receptors are found in the nucleus, cytosol, and also on the plasma membrane of target cells. They are generally intracellular receptors (typically cytoplasmic or nuclear) and initiate signal transduction for steroid hormones which ...

s, and 17α-ethynyl-3β-androstanediol, an

estrogen Estrogen or oestrogen is a category of sex hormone responsible for the development and regulation of the female reproductive system and secondary sex characteristics. There are three major endogenous estrogens that have estrogenic hormonal acti ...

, as

active metabolite An active metabolite is an active form of a drug after it has been processed by the body. Metabolites of drugs An active metabolite results when a drug is metabolized by the body into a modified form which continues to produce effects in the body ...

s. These metabolites may contribute importantly to the

biological activity In pharmacology, biological activity or pharmacological activity describes the beneficial or adverse effects of a drug on living matter. When a drug is a complex chemical mixture, this activity is exerted by the substance's active ingredient or ...

of 17α-ethynyl-3α-androstanediol, with 17α-ethynyl-3α-androstanediol potentially serving as a

prodrug A prodrug is a medication or compound that, after intake, is metabolized (i.e., converted within the body) into a pharmacologically active drug. Instead of administering a drug directly, a corresponding prodrug can be used to improve how the drug ...

. Analogues of 17α-ethynyl-3α-androstanediol include 17α-ethynyl-3β-androstanediol,

ethinylandrostenediol Ethinylandrostenediol (developmental code name SKF-2856), also known as 17α-ethynyl-5-androstenediol, is a synthetic estrogen, progestogen, and androgen which was never marketed.Tan, V. Y. (2010). Characterization of the estrogenic activity of a ...

(17α-ethynyl-5-androstenediol), ethandrostate (17α-ethynyl-5-androstenediol 3β-cyclohexanepropionate),

ethinylestradiol Ethinylestradiol (EE) is an estrogen medication which is used widely in birth control pills in combination with progestins. In the past, EE was widely used for various indications such as the treatment of menopausal symptoms, gynecological disord ...

(17α-ethynylestradiol),

ethisterone Ethisterone, also known as ethinyltestosterone, pregneninolone, and anhydrohydroxyprogesterone and formerly sold under the brand names Proluton C and Pranone among others, is a progestin medication which was used in the treatment of gynecologica ...

(17α-ethynyltestosterone), and 5α-dihydroethisterone (17α-ethynyldihydrotestosterone).

References

5α-Reduced steroid metabolites Abandoned drugs Ethynyl compounds Androgens and anabolic steroids Androstanes Antigonadotropins Diols Experimental cancer drugs Prodrugs Synthetic estrogens {{Antineoplastic-drug-stub