Steroid receptors in cystosarcoma phyllodes

Seven cases of cystosarcoma phyllodes were studied. All but one of the patients were premenopausal. Histologic appearance permitted us to classify 5 as low-grade and 2 as high-grade tumors; 40% of the low-grade tumors were estrogen-receptor-positive (ER-positive), 100% were progesterone receptor-positive (PR-positive), and 60% glucocorticoid receptor-positive (GR-positive). In these tumors, mean PR values were 26.4 fmoles/mg protein; mean GR values were 27.2 fmoles/mg protein; mean ER values were 10,0 fmoles/mg protein. ER and PR were present in one of the high-grade tumors at slightly higher values than in low-grade tumors. GR was present in both high-grade tumors at a mean concentration of 275 fmoles/mg protein. Sucrose gradient analyses showed only the presence of 4S-specific receptors for ER and PR. GR receptors sedimented faster (6-7S).