Steroid sulfatase inhibitors

Steroid sulfatase catalyses the hydrolysis of sulfated steroids to their corresponding hydroxylated forms. Since oestrogens and androgens can be synthesised intracellularly from the abundant circulating sulfated steroids, steroid sulfatase inhibitors should prove to be valuable therapeutic agents for the treatment of hormono-dependent diseases. Furthermore, steroid sulfatase inhibitors have been reported to control brain concentrations of sulfated neurosteroids and also to improve memory. Such therapeutic potential stimulated research and development of steroid sulfatase inhibitors and important progress has been achieved during the last ten years. This review focuses on patented steroid sulfatase inhibitors, but discussion of unpatented inhibitors published in the literature has been included to complement the information presented.