A progesterone compound represented by the following formula (1): ##STR1## \x9bwherein R.sup.1 represents a C1-C23 hydrocarbon group!, and a neovascularization inhibitor containing the same as the active ingredient. The compound (1) has a potent neovascularization inhibitory effect and is hence useful in the treatment of malignant tumors, diabetic retinitis, rheumatism, etc.
Synthesis of a New Potent Anti-angiogenic Agent, 17.ALPHA.-Acetoxy-9.ALPHA.-fluoro-6.ALPHA.-methylprogesterone (9.ALPHA.-Fluoromedroxyprogesterone acetate(FMPA)).
A new anti-angiogenic agent, 17α-acetoxy-9α-fluoro-6α-methylprogesterone (9α-fluoromedoroxyprogesterone acetate [FMPA, 9]) was synthesized in a 10-step sequence. FMPA (9) had about two orders of magnitude stronger antiangiogenic activity than medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), as estimated in a bioassay involving chorioallantoic membranes of growing chick embryos.
A progesterone compound represented by the following formula (1):
[wherein R1 represents a C1-C23 hydrocarbon group], and a neovascularization inhibitor containing the same as the active ingredient.
The compound (1) has a potent neovascularization inhibitory effect and is hence useful as a remedy for malignant tumors, diabetic retinitis, rheumatism, etc.
We synthesized 9α-fluoromedroxyprogesterone acetate (FMPA) in order to test whether it is a more potent anti-angiogenic agent than medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), which has been widely used as a therapeutic agent for breast and endometrium cancers. FMPA was previously synthesized in 10 steps (total yield: 1%). An efficient synthesis of FMPA has been achieved in 6 steps (total yield: 12%). We examined the anti-tumor effect of FMPA, complexed with dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin (DM-β-CyD), on rat mammary carcinomas induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA). FMPA showed great anti-tumor effect on DMBA-induced rat mammary carcinomas.