New insights on anticancer glucocorticoid receptor modulators: a patent review (2020-present)

INTRODUCTION: Selective glucocorticoid receptor modulators (SGRM) have emerged as promising agents to counteract glucocorticoid‑driven chemoresistance, immune suppression and poor prognosis in solid tumors by modulating glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling without losing anticancer immune activity. AREAS COVERED: This review provides a focused update to a previous patent review on SGRM (2014-2020) by summarizing Espacenet-indexed patent applications published between 2020 and 30 April 2026 (PCT/US2020/055498, PCT/US2021/017259, PCT/US2022/042475) describing anticancer strategies. EXPERT OPINION: Collectively, these patents support SGRM in addition to cytotoxic and immunotherapeutic regimens in solid tumors. Preclinical and early‑phase clinical evidence (phase I/II) describes how GR antagonism, continuously or intermittently, lowers elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), modulates GR‑target transcriptional signatures and enhances responses to nab‑paclitaxel and anti‑PD‑1 antibodies. Key limitations of these patents consist of evidence based on still limited clinical sample sizes, requiring confirmation in phase III trials, and on benefit enriched in biologically defined subpopulations. From a clinical perspective, these agents could be realistically integrated into anticancer protocols, as they work synergically with other chemotherapeutics.