Abstract

The nuclear receptor for progesterone is a target for contraception and for several therapeutic indications. Progestin agonists and antagonists in clinical use mimic the steroidal backbone of the cognate ligand, progesterone. Thus, they have significant cross-reactivity with other steroid receptors. Recently, nonsteroidal progesterone receptor ligands have begun to appear in the literature. This review will describe the current status of research into these promising new chemical entities.

Keywords: steroid receptors, abortion, knockout mice, pr-b isoform, breast cancer, progestin antagonists, carbamate, tetrahydrobenzindolone