SEX-HORMONE RECEPTORS IN NON-SMALL-CELL LUNG-CANCER IN HUMAN-BEINGS

To investigate whether sex hormone receptors exist in the resected non -small-cell lung cancer in human beings and to determine a link betwee n the pulmonary carcinogenesis and the sex receptor status of the lung cancer tissue, we reviewed the case histories of 64 patients who unde rwent resectional therapy for non-small-cell lung cancer between 1988 and 1990 (38 men and 26 women, mean age 65 years). Mouse monoclonal im munoglobulin;G antibodies were used for immunohistochemical detection of estrogen receptors and progesterone receptors in the acetone-fixed specimen. The control group consisted of normal lung tissue from the p atients with and without bronchogenic carcinoma and breast cancer tiss ue from the patients with estrogen and progesterone receptor immunorea ctivity. No evidence of estrogen and progesterone receptor immunoreact ivity was present in the normal lung tissue. All but two patients had immunoreactivity (97 %) for estrogen receptors in the lung cancer tiss ue (p < 0.001). Immunoreactivity for progesterone receptors was absent or weak in the majority (p > 0.05). The differences for sex and for h istologic subtypes were not statistically significant. Observed actuar ial survival at 3 years was 83 % for all patients with estrogen recept or immunoreactivity: 94 % for women acid 75 % for men (p < 0.05). We f ound no correlation between the hormone receptor status and the type, clinical features, or prognosis of the, non-small-cell lung cancer. We conclude that an abundance of estrogen receptors is hosted only in ca ncerous tissue, not in normal pulmonary tissue. Improved identificatio n and definition of estrogen receptors in the nontarget lung cancer ti ssue offer a possibility of antiestrogen therapy for patients with adv anced bronchogenic carcinoma.