Androgen receptor predominance in human ovarian carcinoma

Cytosols of 94 untreated common epithelial ovarian cancer tissues were analysed for the presence of estrogen-, progesterone- and androgen receptors. Androgen receptors clearly predominated (90%) over and above estrogen- (55%) and progesterone receptors (52%). Further characterisation particularly of the androgen receptor revealed steroid-receptor complex with the sedimentation coefficient similar to ovalbumin (3,6 S). Only androgens, natural and synthetic, were able to alter the sedimentation profile. Estrogen appeared to slightly lower the peak, while progesterone and cortisol did not alter the profile at all. No difference in receptor concentrations between tumor tissues from pre-, peri- and postmenopausal women was found. The serum hormone levels (estradiol-17 beta, testosterone, FSH, LH) measured preoperatively in 20 postmenopausal patients did not correlate with the receptor status. Majority of the ovarian carcinomas studied contained androgen receptors. We therefore suggest consideration of the addition of anti-androgens to the therapeutic strategies applicable to ovarian cancer.