Sulfatase inhibitors for recidivist breast cancer treatment: A chemical review

•Steroid sulfatase inhibitors have critical role in breast cancer.•Chemical classification of steroid sulfatase inhibitors.•Steroid sulfamated or un-sulfamated STS inhibitors.•Non-steroid sulfamated or un-sulfamated STS inhibitors.•Origin and metabolism of steroid precursors.

Steroid sulfatase (STS) plays a momentous role in the conversion of sulfated steroids, which are biologically inactive, into biologically active un-sulfated steroid hormones, which support the development and growth of a number of hormone-dependent cancers, including breast cancer. Therefore, inhibitors of STS are supposed to be potential drugs for the treatment of breast and other steroid-dependent cancers. The present review concentrates on broad chemical classification of steroid sulfatase inhibitors. The inhibitors reviewed are classified into four main categories: Steroid sulfamate based inhibitors; Steroid non-sulfamate based inhibitors; Non-steroidal sulfamate based inhibitors; Non-steroidal non-sulfamate based inhibitors. A succinct overview of current treatment of cancer, estradiol precursors, STS enzyme and its role in breast cancer is herein described.

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