Abstract: A method of inhibiting angiogenesis in a warm blooded animal which comprises administering to said animal an anti-angiogenic effective amount of a compound of the formula: ##STR1## wherein the dotted line between positions C-1 and C-2 means the presence or absence of a double bond; the .about.bond at C-6 denotes .alpha. or .beta.;wherein R.sub.1 is CH.sub.3 or --C.sub.2 H.sub.5 ;wherein R.sub.2 is H, and R.sub.3 is in the .alpha.-position and is --OH, --O-alkyl(C.sub.1 -C.sub.12), --OC(.dbd.O)alkyl(C.sub.1 -C.sub.12), --OC(.dbd.O)aryl, --OC(.dbd.O)N(R).sub.2, or --OC(.dbd.O)OR.sub.7, wherein aryl is furyl, thienyl, pyrrolyl, or pyridyl wherein each of said hetero moiety is optionally substituted with one or two (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)-alkyl groups or aryl is --(CH.sub.2).sub.f -phenyl wherein f is 0 to 2 and wherein the phenyl ring is optionally substituted with one to three groups selected from chlorine, fluorine, bromine, alkyl(C.sub.1 -C.sub.3), alkoxy(C.sub.1 -C.sub.3), thioalkoxy(C.sub.1 -C.sub.3), Cl.sub.