Estrogen - and gestagen - receptors in ovarian carcinoma.

Estrogen (ER) - and progestagen (PgR) - receptors were estimated by a DCC method using Scatchard plot analysis In tissue samples of 68 patients with ovarian carcinomas. The mean ER and PgR levels were at 52 and 74 fmol/mg cytosol protein, respectively. ER+ PgR+ records were noted in 32.4%, ER+ PgR- in 26.4%, ER- PgR+ in 7.4%, and 33.8% presented with ER- PgR-. In the surviving group 44.1% had Er+ PgR+, whereas the patients who died had an incidence of only 20.5% ER+ PgR+. In addition, the incidences of ER+ PgR+ in stage I plus II and stage III plus IV patients were 42.6 and 29.5%, respectively. Furthermore, higher incidences of ER+ PgR+ were recorded in patients older than 60 years of age (63%) than in younger subjects (36%). The present data combine to suggest that receptor assays should become a useful tool in the management of patients bearing ovarian carcinomas. In addition, ER and PgR determinations provide a prognostic index and may improve the possibility to predict which well-differentiated stage I ovarian carcinomas are likely to recur.