Estrogen- and progesterone-receptor proteins in intracranial tumors.

Estrogen and progesterone receptors have been measured in 13 intracranial tumors (eight meningiomas, two acoustic neurinomas, one primary tumor of neuroectodermal origin, one giant-celled glioblastoma, and one metastasis of carcinoma). Evidence is provided of the presence of progesterone receptors in meningiomas (87.5%). We could not find clear evidence of estrogen receptors in any tumor of this series. Presence of progesterone receptors in meningiomas suggests an explanation for the greater incidence of these tumors in women and their rapid growth during pregnancy.