The cytotoxicity of oxysterols was systematically studied in tumor and normal cells. Synthetic strategies to prepare this library included oxidations at ring B and a new method to yield 6β-hemiphthalates directly from Δ(5)-steroids. Most oxysterols were cytotoxic and showed selectivity toward cancer cells, LAMA-84 cells (leukemia) being particularly sensitive to 4, 8, 22, and 27 (IC(50) < 5.6 μM). The structural requirements to induce selective toxicity are discussed to shed light on the development of new anticancer drugs.
A library of diastereomerically pure epoxysterols, prepared by combining chemical and enzymatic methodologies, was evaluated for cytotoxicity toward human cancer and noncancer cell lines. Unsaturated steroids were oxidized by magnesium bis(monoperoxyphthalate) hexahydrate in acetonitrile, and the resulting epimeric epoxides were enzymatically separated using Novozym 435 or lipase AY. Some of the synthesized epoxysterols have potent cytotoxicity and higher activity on cancer cell lines HT29 and LAMA-84.
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