Clinical correlates of estrogen- and progesterone-binding proteins in human endometrial adenocarcinoma.

Seventy-eight endometrial carcinoma specimens from 74 patients were evaluated for estrogen (E2R) and progesterone (PrR) receptors by multiconcentration saturation and sucrose density gradient analysis. The clinical stage and histologic grade of the tumors and the patients' clinical course were compared to the qualitative and quantitative evaluations of E2R and PrR. Although no correlation was seen between receptor content and extent of disease, tumors with significant levels of E2R and PrR tended to be less aggressive than those in which neither receptor was detected. The histologic grade correlated with a combination of estrogen and progesterone receptor content. In 92% of the patients there was a concordance between the presence or absence of E2R and PrR in the tumor and a clinical response to progestin therapy. The significance of these findings in relationship to the presence of multiple forms of steroid binding is discussed.