17α-Ethynyl-3α-androstanediol
chemical compound
17α-Ethynyl-3α-androstanediol (developmental code names HE-3235, Apoptone), also known as 17α-ethynyl-5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol, is a synthetic androstane steroid and a 17α-substituted derivative of 3α-androstanediol which was never marketed. It was under development for the treatment of prostate cancer but was discontinued.
17α-Ethynyl-3α-androstanediol itself shows very low affinity for steroid receptors, including the ARTooltip androgen receptor, ERαTooltip estrogen receptor alpha, ERβTooltip estrogen receptor beta, PRTooltip progesterone receptor, and GRTooltip glucocorticoid receptor, and its mechanism of action is not well-characterized. It produces 5α-dihydroethisterone (5α-dihydro-17α-ethynyltestosterone), a ligand of several steroid hormone receptors, and 17α-ethynyl-3β-androstanediol, an estrogen, as active metabolites. These metabolites may contribute importantly to the biological activity of 17α-ethynyl-3α-androstanediol, with 17α-ethynyl-3α-androstanediol potentially serving as a prodrug.
Analogues of 17α-ethynyl-3α-androstanediol include 17α-ethynyl-3β-androstanediol, ethinylandrostenediol (17α-ethynyl-5-androstenediol), ethandrostate (17α-ethynyl-5-androstenediol 3β-cyclohexanepropionate), ethinylestradiol (17α-ethynylestradiol), ethisterone (17α-ethynyltestosterone), and 5α-dihydroethisterone (17α-ethynyldihydrotestosterone).
This brief starts where responsible research should: with the source description of “17α-Ethynyl-3α-androstanediol” as chemical compound. Everything that follows is an evidence route, not borrowed authority.
Why this record matters
The subject matters to the science & nature register because the source frames it as chemical compound. Its deeper value depends on whether names, dates, institutions and citations support that framing.
The date and method of observation matter as much as the stated conclusion, especially where classification or consensus has changed. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jun 20, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q27269981. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference.
Current terminology should not be projected backward without checking the classification used when the underlying evidence was created. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “17α-Ethynyl-3α-androstanediol”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow 17α-Ethynyl-3α-androstanediol primary sources, 17α-Ethynyl-3α-androstanediol archive and 17α-Ethynyl-3α-androstanediol research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “17α-Ethynyl-3α-androstanediol”?
- Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
- Which observation, specimen, dataset or publication supports the account?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “17α-Ethynyl-3α-androstanediol” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.