Disclosed are compounds of the formula:wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are independently
hydrogen, C1-C6
alkyl, halo, a
sulfate, a
glucuronide, —OH, a bulky group,
aryl, cycloalkyl, heteroaryl, heterocycloalkyl, —N(CH2)n; a
phosphate group, and a
phosphinate group; R9 is
hydrogen,
halogen or
alkyl; R11 is selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C6
alkyl,
halogen, a
sulfate, a glucoronide, —SO2NH2, —COOH, —CN, —CH2CN—, —NHCN—, —CHO, ═CHOCH3, —COO salt, —OSO2alkyl, —NH2, and —NHCO(CH2)n; R12 is selected from the group consisting of H, a C1-C6 alkyl, a
sulfate, a glucoronide, a bulky group,
aryl, cycloalkyl, heteroaryl and heterocycloalkyl; X is selected from the group consisting of C1-C12 alkyl, C2-C12 alkenyl, C2-C12 alkynyl,
halogen, a glucoronide, —NH2, —SO2NH2, —COOH, —CN, —CH2CN, —NHCN, —CHO, —COOsalt, —OSO2alkyl, —SH, —SCH3, —CH[(CH2)nCH2]COOCH2, —(CH2)mCOOCH3, —(CH2)m—O—CH3, —(CH2)m—O—(CH2)nCH3, (CH2)m—S—CH3, —(CH2)m—S—(CH2)nCH3, —(CH2)m—NH—(CH2)nCH3, —C2-C8 alkenyl-O—(CH2)nCH3, —C2-C8 alkenyl-S—(CH2)nCH3, —C2-C8 alkenyl-N—(CH2)nCH3, —C2-C8 alkynyl-O—(CH2)nCH3, —C2-C8 alkynyl-S—(CH2)nCH3, —C2-C8 alkynyl-N—(CH2)nCH3, —(CH2)m—OH, —(CH2)m—O—NH2, —(CH2)m—S—NH2, —NH(CH2)mCH3, —NH(CH2)mOCH3, —NH(CH2)mCHOH—COOH, —N(CH3)2, —(CH2)m(NH)CH2OH, —NHCOOH, —(CH2)mNHCOOH, —NO2, —SCN, —SO2alkyl, —B(OH)2, —(CH2)m N(CH3)—SO2—NH3, —(CH2)m—NH—SO2—NH2, —NHC(═S)CH3, and —NHNH2; and Y is selected from
hydrogen, ═O, —OCO(R6) and —OH; wherein m is an integer between 0-20, n is an integer between 0-8, the symbol represents either a single or a
double bond capable of forming a keto group at position 3 or 17; and the symbol represents any type of bond regardless of the
stereochemistry; and the respective enantiomers, other stereochemical isomers, hydrates, solvates, tautomers and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of said compounds. The compounds are useful in the treatment of various types of
cancer.