Celite multi-column chromatography for the simultaneous separation of progesterone, deoxycorticosterone and 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone from small plasma or tissue samples

Non-steroidal CYP17A1 Inhibitors: Discovery and Assessment

CYP17A1 is an enzyme that plays a major role in steroidogenesis and is critically involved in the biosynthesis of steroid hormones. Therefore, it remains an attractive target in several serious hormone-dependent cancer diseases, such as prostate cancer and breast cancer. The medicinal chemistry community has been committed to the discovery and development of CYP17A1 inhibitors for many years, particularly for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer. The current Perspective reflects upon the discovery and evaluation of non-steroidal CYP17A1 inhibitors from a medicinal chemistry angle. Emphasis is placed on the structural aspects of the target, key learnings from the presented chemotypes, and design guidelines for future inhibitors.

Steroid assays in paediatric endocrinology

Most steroid disorders of the adrenal cortex come to clinical attention in childhood and in order to investigate these problems, there are many challenges to the laboratory which need to be appreciated to a certain extent by clinicians. The analysis of sex steroids in biological fluids from neonates, over adrenarche and puberty present challenges of specificities and concentrations often in small sample sizes. Different reference ranges are also needed for interpretations. For around 40 years, quantitative assays for the steroids and their regulatory peptide hormones have been possible using immunoassay techniques. Problems are recognised and this review aims to summarise the benefits and failings of immunoassays and introduce where tandem mass spectrometry is anticipated to meet the clinical needs for steroid analysis in paediatric endocrine investigations. It is important to keep a dialogue between clinicians and the laboratory, especially when any laboratory result does not make sense in the clinical investigation.

Chromatography as a reference technique for the determination of clinically important steroids

Chromatographic methods (paper chromatography, thin layer chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) for the determination of clinically important steroids in biological specimens are reviewed. The emphasis is on the use of gas chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and high performance liquid chromatography as reference rather than routine techniques. Chromatographic methods are compared with colorimetric, fluorimetric and radioimmunoassay procedures in terms of simplicity of operation, cost and ability to analyse large numbers of specimens. The importance of correct specimen collection and storage are discussed. Sample preparation techniques for the various analytical methods are described. These include extraction of free and conjugated steroids from serum, plasma, urine and saliva by solvent partition, with polymer-based resins such as Amberlite XAD-2, DEAE-Sephadex and Sephadex resins bonded with various other function groups and, more recently, with chemically bonded reversed-phase silicas.