Boronosteroids as potential antitumor drugs: A review

Boron’s unique chemical properties have long fascinated scientists, particularly its ability to form stable five- or six-membered spiroborate compounds. Among these, tetracoordinate compounds, where boron is bonded to four oxygen atoms, stand out for their versatility and significance across various fields. Over the past few decades, these compounds have demonstrated remarkable pharmacological properties and biological activity, establishing them as a cornerstone of modern boron chemistry. The reaction between boric acid and cis-1,2- and 1,3-diol groups has been known for more than a century, providing the basis for analytical chemistry and adsorption techniques. Building upon this knowledge, the interaction between boric acid and steroids opens new horizons in lipid chemistry. These boron-steroid complexes, though largely unexplored, hold great promise for future biomedical applications. The steroids that form boron complexes exhibit enhanced solubility in an aqueous solution, which in turn augments the antitumor efficacy of these steroids. The data presented show that 58% of steroids exhibit strong antineoplastic and related activities, 31% display moderate activity, and <11% show weak antineoplastic activity and varying levels of activity in other biological mechanisms.