Steroid receptors in sarcomatous lesions.

Clinical observations showed that the natural history of sarcomatous lesions may be different among males and females, and it may be influenced by hormonal factors. Estrogen receptors (ER) were measured on biopsy specimens of melanoma (two patients), soft-tissue sarcoma (four patients), cystosarcoma phylloides (five patients), benign breast tissues (27 patients), and breast carcinoma (109 patients). Thirty-four specimens also had progesterone receptors (PR) analyzed. One of the five cystosarcoma phylloides and five of the six nonmammary sarcoma tissues contained ER (mainly of the 4 Svedburg (S) variety) of more than 7 femtomoles (fmoles)/mg cytosol proteins (6/11 = 54%). For comparison three of the 14 fibroadenoma specimens and two of the 13 patients with other benign lesions had positive ERs (5/27 = 19%), whereas 56% of the breast carcinomas were ER positive. Since the amount of 8S ER found in sarcomatous tissues is relatively low, hormonal treatment would not be effective.