The development of steroid sulfatase inhibitors for hormone-dependent cancer therapy

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2009 Feb:1155:80-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2008.03677.x.

Abstract

Steroid sulfatase (STS) regulates the hydrolysis of steroid sulfates to their unconjugated forms. Estrone sulfate and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate can be hydrolyzed by STS to estrone and dehydroepiandrosterone, respectively, with these steroids being the precursors for the synthesis of more biologically active estrogens or androgens. A number of potent STS inhibitors have now been developed including STX64, which entered a phase I trial for the treatment of postmenopausal women with advanced metastatic hormone-dependent breast cancer. The results from this phase I trial were encouraging, suggesting that STS inhibitors may also have a role in the treatment of other hormone-dependent cancers including those of the endometrium, ovary, and prostate. In this paper the potential use of STS inhibitors to treat these hormone-dependent cancers is reviewed. In addition, results from in vitro studies show that Ishikawa endometrial cancer cells, OVCAR-3 ovarian cancer cells, and LNCaP prostate cancer cells all possess significant STS activity. Furthermore, STS activity in these cells can be almost completely inhibited by STX64 or the second-generation STS inhibitor, STX213. Results from these investigations therefore suggest that STS inhibitors could have therapeutic potential for the treatment of a range of hormone-dependent cancers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / drug therapy*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Steryl-Sulfatase / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Steryl-Sulfatase / genetics

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Steryl-Sulfatase