title: Anticancer steroids: linking natural and semi-synthetic compounds.
abstract: Steroids, a widespread class of natural organic compounds occurring in animals, plants and fungi, have shown great therapeutic value for a broad array of pathologies. The present overview is focused on the anticancer activity of steroids, which is very representative of a rich structural molecular diversity and ability to interact with various biological targets and pathways. This review encompasses the most relevant discoveries on steroid anticancer drugs and leads through the last decade and comprises 668 references.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Polo das Ciências da Saúde, 3000-508, Coimbra, Portugal. salvador@ci.uc.pt samelo@ff.uc.pt
authors.forename: Jorge A R
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Salvador
authors.forename: João F S
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Marco A C
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.forename: Samuel M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Silvestre
authors.forename: Alcino J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Leitão
authors.forename: M Manuel C
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: M Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Sá e Melo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D001688:Biological Products / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D005658:Fungi; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D013256:Steroids / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001688:Biological Products; D013256:Steroids