Synthesis and biological behavior of a boronated analogue of the antiestrogen U 23,469-M.

A boronated analogue of the antiestrogen U 23,469-M (D. Lednicer, D. W. Emmert, S. C. Lyster, and G. W. Duncan, J. Med. Chem. 12, 881 (1969] was prepared, for possible use in neutron capture therapy of estrogen receptor-positive tumors. In this analogue, the terminal OH group was replaced by a B-decachloro-o-carboranyl residue. This compound showed a large, non-specific uptake in ZR 75-1 breast cancer-derived cells. It could partially inhibit the uptake of estradiol in these cells. Accumulation in the cells at physiologically obtainable concentrations was, however, too low to envisage a therapeutic effect following thermal neutron irradiation.