Synthesis and biological in vitro evaluation of the effect of hydroxyimino steroidal derivatives on breast cancer cells

[Display omitted] •Steroidal hydroxyimino compounds were synthesized in high yields.•Spirostan hydroxyamino derivatives inhibit proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cell line.•22-Oxocholestane derivatives inhibit proliferation of MCF-7 cancer line.•i-Steroidal scaffold increases antiproliferative activity on luminal-A cancer cells. Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in women, according to Global Cancer Observatory. This fact forces scientists to continue in the search for effective treatments against this aggressive type of cancer. Breast cancer frequently metastasizes to other organs, most often the bones, lungs, and liver. Breast cancer is normally associated with estrogen and progestogen levels and can be hormone or non-hormone dependent. In current experiments herein reported, some hydroxyimino spirostan derivatives showed great potential against MCF-7 breast cancer, a Luminal-A cancer. On the other hand, a set of synthesized 6-hydroxyimino-22-oxocholestane compounds had excellent activity against the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line. The synthesis of hydroxyamino derivatives from spirostan and 22-oxocholestane compounds was improved. The hydroxyimino compounds enhanced the bioactivity when compared with their parent carbonyl skeletons.