Steroid receptor pattern of human colorectal neoplasms

Twenty-four colorectal carcinomas were assayed for estrogen and progestin receptors by sucrose gradient centrifugation. Most biopsies were either completely estrogen receptor negative or displayed low titers of specific estrogen binding. Only three tumors demonstrated moderate estrogen binding activity (10-18 fmol/mg cytosol protein). In four tumors specific progestin binding exceeded 20 fmol/mg protein. Only a minor subset of the binders sedimented at 8S. Twenty-one colorectal tumors examined for the presence of glucocorticoid receptors were found to be receptor positive, without exception. Biopsies from normal colorectal mucosa displayed minute quantities of specific 8S estrogen and progestin binding, but significant titers of specific glucocorticoid binding. Our findings support the hypothesis that estrogens and progestins are unlikely to play a major role in endocrine control of colorectal neoplasms. The role of glucocorticoids in growth control of colorectal neoplasms remains to be defined.