| abstract |
The present invention relates to steroid derivatives for use as medicaments. More specifically, the invention also relates to the use of a steroid derivative of 5-androstene-, 5-pregnenolone or corresponding saturated derivatives (androstane- or pregnane-) in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a benign and/or malignant tumour, which medicament is capable of interrupting disturbances in Wnt-signaling, such as cell-cycle arrest in G1-phase, and/or providing an angiostatic effect. Examples of such steroid derivatives are .DELTA.-5-androstene-17.alpha.-ol, androstane-17.alpha.-ol-pregnane-17.alpha.-ol or pregnane-17.alpha.-ol derivatives. In a further aspect, the invention relates to a method of producing a medicament for the treatment of a benign and/or malignant tumour and/or an inflammatory condition comprising the steps of contacting 5-androstane-3.szlig.,17.alpha.-diol or androstane-3.szlig..alpha.-diol, an enzyme and a sulfotransferase to provide 5-androstene-17.alpha.-ol-3.szlig.-sulfate or corresponding androstane derivative (17.alpha.-AEDS or 17-AADS); and mixing the 17.alpha.-AEDS or 17.alpha.-AADS so produced with a suitable carrier; whereby a medicament which is capable of acting as a ligand to perox-isome proliferator-activated receptor-.gamma. (PPAR.gamma.) is produced. |