THE PRESENCE OF specific steroid hormone-binding receptors has been co
rrelated with the clinical response to hormonal therapy in a number of
different neoplasias, including breast and prostate cancer. In this a
rticle, we investigated the expression of the androgen, estrogen, gluc
ocorticoid, and progesterone receptor messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA
) and protein in a number of astrocytic neoplasms of various histologi
cal grades. Androgen and glucocorticoid receptor mRNA were detected in
all astrocytic neoplasms examined, regardless of histological subtype
. In contrast, progesterone receptor mRNA was observed more frequently
in high-grade tumors than in low-grade tumors. Estrogen receptor mRNA
was undetectable in all astrocytic tumors examined. These studies sug
gest a possible adjunct clinical use of hormonal therapy for the treat
ment of astrocytomas. Specific antagonists and agonists may allow the
modulation of the growth of these tumors. Development of this body of
knowledge may lead to the development of better treatment for these ag
gressive tumors.