Estrogen and progesterone receptors in gastric and colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR) have been ev aluated in gastrointestinal cancer by several groups with conflicting resul ts. The aim of the study is to examine the presence of these receptors in g astric and colon cancer. METHODOLOGY: Estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors were assayed by the dextran-coated charcoal adsorption method from malignant and normal adj acent tissues in 16 patients with gastric adenocarcinomas and in 10 with co lorectal adenocarcinomas. RESULTS: In gastric cancer, ER were detected in 62.5% and PR in 75% of the patients. In colorectal cancer, the ER and PR were detected in 60% of the p atients. The binding activity ranged from 1.14-9.27 fmol/mg protein for est radiol and from 1.43-10.84 fmol/mg protein for progesterone. ER and PR were detected in normal gastric tissue in 62.5% and in 50%, respectively. In th e normal colorectal tissue the ER and PR were detected in 30% and 50%. ER r anged from 1.20-16.63,fmol/mg protein for estradiol and from 1.44-9.94 fmol /mg protein for progesterone. There was no statistical difference in levels of ER and PR in both tissues. CONCLUSIONS: ER and PR were detected in normal and cancer tissues in low le vels, suggesting a feature of the tissue rather than a consequence of a mal ignant process. Eventual role of ER or PR in these cancers remains to be el ucidated.