[Prognostic value of the level of steroid hormone receptors in cancer of the large intestine].

Clinical course of 77 surgical cases of cancer of the large bowel was evaluated versus levels of estrogen, androgen, progesterone and glucocorticoid hormone receptors. Within the follow-up period (range 6-41 months), 7 (9%) patients died of tumor progression, 16 (21%) developed recurrence or metastases, while the rest 54 (70%) cases continued in remission. Patients with steroid hormone receptor-positive tumors revealed more favorable clinical course as well as longer disease-free and overall survival than cases of receptor-negative cancer. Estrogen receptor status was found to be of the highest prognostic value in terms of clinical course and survival, as compared to all other hormone receptors studied.