Synthesis and Antiproliferative Activity of Some Androstene Oximes and Their O-Alkylated Derivatives

In order to study the structure-activity relationship with respect to the cytotoxicity of steroidal oximes, several 6E-hydroximino-4-ene steroids and their O-alkylated derivatives were synthesized. The oxime ethers were solidified and purified by preparing their corresponding oxalate salts. The new derivatives as well as some previously synthesized ones were evaluated for in vitro antineoplastic activity against a panel of 60 cancer cell lines at 10 mu M. The oximes and oxime ethers were found to have moderate to good antiproliferative activity against various leukemia, colon, melanoma, and renal cancer cell lines.