Estrogen receptor proteins in diverse human tumors.

One hundred three diverse benign and malignant human tissues have been assayed for estrogen receptor proteins. Receptors were detected in many endocrine and nonendocrine tumors. Tissues with estrogen receptor activity included four of five male breast carcinomas, 11 of 14 malignant melanomas, four of eight colon carcinomas, five of seven renal carcinomas, and various sarcomas and benign and normal tissues. Some tumors also had progesterone, androgen, and/or glucocorticoid receptors. These results suggest the use of hormones and hormone antagonists for therapy of a broad range of human cancer. Clinicians of diverse expertise should be aware of, and responsive to, potential endocrinological involvement in many dissimilar disease states.