2-Hydroxyestradiol

**Semantic type:** Organic Chemical|Pharmacologic Substance

**Definition:** A metabolite formed during the metabolism of 17beta-estradiol by hydroxylation of the carbon at position 2 by the CYP450 enzymes 1A1/1A2. Theoretically, 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OHE2) is able to undergo redox cycling, which generates active radicals and induces DNA damage; however, this estradiol metabolite is very unstable in vivo and is quickly inactivated by catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT)-mediated O-methylation and converted to 2-methoxyestradiol (2-MeE2). 2-MeE2 exerts antineoplastic activities through its estrogen receptor antagonistic effect and the induction of apoptosis in susceptible cancer cells.

**Synonyms:** - (17beta)-Estra-1,3,5(10)-Triene-2,3,17-Triol - 2-HYDROXYESTRADIOL - 2-Hydroxy-17beta-Estradiol - 2-Hydroxyestradiol-17beta - 2-OH-E2 - 2-OH-Estradiol - 2-OHE2