Sapanisertib is an oral dual inhibitor of mTORC1/mTORC2, discovered by Intellikine for the treatment of cancer. The drug is being tested in phase II of clinical trials for different cancers among which are sarcoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, etc. The drug is currently developed by Takeda with breast cancer, renal cancer and endometrial cancer being the main target indications.

Irosustat is a first-generation, orally active, irreversible steroid sulfatase inhibitor. It did not stimulate the growth of estrogen-sensitive MCF-7 breast cells in vitro. Irosustat was in phase II clinical trials for the treatment of breast cancer and endometrial cancer and phase I clinical trial for the treatment of prostate cancer. However, this research has been discontinued.

Dovitinib is an orally active small molecule that exhibits potent inhibitory activity against multiple receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) involved in tumor growth and angiogenesis. Dovitinib strongly binds to fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) and inhibits its phosphorylation, which may result in the inhibition of tumor cell proliferation and the induction of tumor cell death. In addition, this agent may inhibit other members of the RTK superfamily, including the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor; fibroblast growth factor receptor 1; platelet-derived growth factor receptor type 3; FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3; stem cell factor receptor (c-KIT); and colony-stimulating factor receptor 1; this may result in an additional reduction in cellular proliferation and angiogenesis, and the induction of tumor cell apoptosis. There are several ongoing Phase I/III clinical trials for dovitinib.

MKC-1 is an orally available cell cycle inhibitor with downstream targets that include tubulin and the importin-β family. MKC-1 has shown broad antitumor activity in preclinical models. MKC-1 and its metabolites inhibit tubulin polymerization, blocking the formation of the mitotic spindle, which may result in cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and apoptosis. In addition, this agent has been shown to inhibit the activities of the oncogenic kinase Akt, the mTOR pathway, and importin-beta, a protein essential to the transport of other proteins from the cytosol into the nucleus. MKC-1 had been in phase II clinical trials for the treatment of ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, pancreatic cancer and breast cancer. This compound was originally discovered by Roche, then licensed to EntreMed (now CASI Pharmaceuticals) the exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize. However, no recent development has been reported.

Pilaralisib (XL147, SAR245408) is a potent and highly selective inhibitor of class I phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) (α, β, γ, and δ). In cellular assays, XL147 inhibits the formation of PIP3 in the membrane, and inhibits phosphorylation of AKT, p70S6K, and S6 in multiple tumor cell lines with diverse genetic alterations affecting the PI3K pathway. In a panel of tumor cell lines, XL147 inhibits proliferation with a wide range of potencies, with evidence of an impact of genotype on sensitivity. Repeat-dose administration of XL147 results in significant tumor growth inhibition in multiple human xenograft models in nude mice. Pilaralisib, was being developed by Exelixis and its licensee, Sanofi (formerly sanofi-aventis), for the treatment of solid tumours. However, the product was not listed on Sanofi's early stage pipeline as of end of July 2015 and there have been no recent reports on development identified.

KU0058948 is an inhibitor of Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). In addition KU0058948 was shown to activate extracellular signal-regulated kinase 8 (ERK8). It affects viability of leukemia, pancreatic and endometrial cancer cells.

AZ-1080 (AZD-1080) is an inhibitor of GSK-beta which was developed by AstraZeneca and initially tested in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (phase I). The drug was discontinued for the aforementioned condition, but now it is being investigated as a potential therapy for ovarina cancer and emdometrial carcinoma (basic research).

Aminopterin is a synthetic derivative of pterins with antineoplastic and immunosuppressive properties. As a folate analog, aminopterin competes for the folate binding site of the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase, thereby blocking tetrahydrofolate synthesis, and resulting in depletion of nucleotide precursors and inhibition of DNA, RNA and protein synthesis. Aminopterin was marketed by Lederle Laboratories (Pearl River, New York) in the United States from 1953 to 1964 for the indication of pediatric leukemia. The closely related antifolate methotrexate was simultaneously marketed by the company during the same period. Aminopterin was discontinued by Lederle Laboratories in favor of methotrexate due to manufacturing difficulties of the former. During the period Aminopterin was marketed, the agent was used off-label to safely treat over 4,000 patients with psoriasis in the United States, producing dramatic clearing of lesions. The use of aminopterin in cancer treatment was supplanted in the 1950s by methotrexate due to the latter's better therapeutic index in a rodent tumor model. Now in a more pure preparation and supported by laboratory evidence of superior tumor cell uptake in vitro, aminopterin is being investigated in clinical trials in leukemia as a potentially superior antifolate to methotrexate.

Gestonorone is a progesterone analogue indicated for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and endometrial cancer. The drug is approved in many countries and used under the names Primostat and Depostat.

Promestriene (3-propyl ethyl, 17B-methyl estradiol) is a synthetic estrogen analog, which is used in topical estrogen therapy. Promestriene’s potential for treating vaginal atrophy symptoms associated with aromatase inhibitor treatment would be precluded if its minimal absorption leads to estrogen-like effects on cell proliferation and estrogen-responsive gene expression. The concern with absorbed vaginal estrogens or estrogen analogs is that they activate occult sites of residual breast cancer or negate the tumor suppressive effects of aromatase inhibitor adjuvant therapy. Promestriene has been studied in phase IV of the clinical trial on improvement of hormonal cytology, local and systemic climacteric complaints, as well as its endometrial security in patients with vaginitis atrophic pelvic; organ prolapse and endometrial hyperplasia. It has been also studied in phase III of the clinical trial in the post-operative patients with hypospadias. In addition, promestriene was in phase IV of the clinical trial to study its treatment of patients with vaginosis, bacterial, but that studied was terminated.