17-substituted steroids useful in cancer treatment

摘要

Compounds of the general formula (1) <IMAGE> (I) wherein X represents the residue of the A, B and C rings of a steroid, R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R14 represents a hydrogen atom and R15 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl or alkoxy group of 1-4 carbon atoms, or a hydroxy or alkylcarbonyloxy group of 2 to 5 carbon atoms or R14 and R15 together represent a double bond, and R16 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, in the form of the free bases or phannaceutically acceptable acid addition salts, are useful for treatment of androgen-dependent disorders, especially prostatic cancer, and also oestrogen-dependent disorders such as breast cancer.