A New Class of Steroids Inhibits Angiogenesis in the Presence of Heparin or a Heparin Fragment

Abstract

Steroids that lack glucocorticoid or mineralocorticoid activity were found to inhibit angiogenesis in the presence of heparin or specific heparin fragments. This newly discovered steroid function appears to be governed by distinct structural configurations of the pregnane nucleus. These compounds are here named angiostatic steroids.