Abstract: Estratriene derivatives of the following formula have a powerful inhibitory effect on estrone sulfatase and are hence useful for the prophylaxis or treatment of diseases caused by estrogens, such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, adenomyosis uteri and mastopathy. ##STR1## wherein one of A and B represents C.dbd.O or CH.sub.2 and the other represents O or NH; and R represents --SO.sub.2 NR.sup.1 R.sup.2 or --PO(OM).sub.2 in which R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group and M represents a hydrogen atom or an alkali metal; provided that, when one of A and B represents NH, the other represents C.dbd.O.

Abstract: A steroid compound represented by the formula ##STR1## which has an excellent aromatase-inhibiting effect and is useful for preventing or treating diseases caused by estrogens, such as breast cancer, uterine cancer and prostatomegaly. This compound has an oxygen or nitrogen atom as the heteroatom at the position A of the ring D and the 7-position (substituent R.sup.1) of the skeleton is substituted by --S--R.sup.2 (wherein R.sup.2 represents hydrogen, lower alkyl which may be substituted by hydroxy, amino or lower alkoxycarbonyl, lower alkenyl, aralkyl, aryl which may be substituted by halogen, amino, di(lower alkyl)amino, lower alkoxy or lower alkyl, acyl, or lower alkoxycarbonyl), --S(O)m--R.sub.3 (wherein R.sup.3 represents lower alkyl; and m represents 1 or 2), or aralkyl.

Abstract: Compounds are described having the formula ##STR1## wherein A denotes C.dbd.O, CH.sub.2, C.dbd.CH.sub.2 or C.dbd.CH-lower alkyl;B denotes O, NH or N-lower alkyl;X does not exist, or denotes C.dbd.O or CH.sub.2 ;n denotes 2 or 3 when X does not exist, or denotes 1 or 2 when X denotes C.dbd.O or CH.sub.2 ; andthe broken line between the 1- and 2-positions of the steroid skeleton means that a double bond may optionally exist there. These compounds have an aromatase inhibition action and are useful for prophylaxis or treatment of diseases caused by excess of estrogens, for example, breast cancer, uterine cancer, prostatic hypertrophy, etc.

Abstract: A benzothiophene derivative represented by the formula ##STR1## or a salt thereof has an excellent antiestrogenic activity, and is useful as a therapeutic agent of breast cancer, endometrial cancer, endometriosis, mastopathy, etc.This compound is characterized in that the 2-position (the substituent R.sup.2) of the benzothiophene nucleus is substituted by a halogen atom; a lower alkyl group; or a cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl group optionally substituted by a lower alkyl group, a hydroxyl group, acyloxy group or an oxo group.

Abstract: A compound represented by the following formula ##STR1## wherein A represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkanoyl group, Z represents an oxygen atom or the group ##STR2## in which R represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group, and X represents a halogen atom, the compound being useful for controlling androgen-dependent diseases, particularly for preventing abortion or for contraception.

Abstract: A compound represented by the following formula ##STR1## wherein A represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkanoyl group, Z represents an oxygen atom or the group ##STR2## in which R represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group, and X represents a halogen atom, the compound being useful for controlling androgen-dependent diseases, particularly for preventing prostatic hypertrophy.