Correlation between estrophilin immunoreactivity and androgen receptor-binding activity in meningiomas.

Estrogen receptor (ER) analysis was performed with an enzyme immunoassay using monoclonal antibodies against human ER protein (estrophilin) in 70 meningiomas. [3H]methyltrienolone, a synthetic androgen, was used for concurrent determination of the androgen receptor (AR)-binding activity. Low levels of ER immunoreactivity were detected in 36 cases (51%), whereas moderately high AR-binding activity was demonstrated in 33 (47%) tumors. A positive correlation between ER immunoreactivity and AR-binding activity is indicative for an estrogen regulation of AR via the ER system. The presence of gonadal steroid receptors in a large proportion of meningiomas and the tendency for a dependence of receptor concentrations on the histological subtype could have implications for tumor therapy.