Estrogen and progesterone receptors in human colorectal tumour cells (study of 70 cases)

Estrogen and progesterone receptors were studied in 70 cases of human colorectal cancer by a cytochemical technique. 28.5% of the cases were estrogen-receptor positive and 42.8% progesterone-receptor positive. There was no difference between the sexes for estrogen receptors but the women had more tumours with progesterone receptors than men. The presence of receptors is unrelated to the differentiation of the tumor. More colon tumours were positive than those of the sigma and rectum. The concentration of cells with receptors in positive cancer cases tended to be low or medium-low.