Steroid receptors in human meningioma

It is well recognised that there is an increased frequency of meningioma in women compared with men and that rapid progression of the disease may occur during pregnancy. Recent studies have demonstrated steroid receptors in human meningioma. In this study we have looked for the presence of nuclear and cytoplasmic estrogen receptor (ER) and cytoplasmic progesterone receptor (PR) in 22 cases of meningioma. Radioreceptor assays using a six-point dextran-coated charcoal procedure failed to demonstrate specific ER, but 17 of 22 meningiomas did have specific PR (range 11-314 fmol/mg cytosol protein). Flat-bed isoelectric focusing in agarose gel was used to confirm the results in a few of these cases. We were not able to correlate the presence of receptor with age or sex of patient, or the site of tumour with receptor content. Of the five PR-negative tumors, one was a poor specimen when the histology was examined and two belonged to the angioblastic group (haemangiopericytic variety), a particularly aggressive tumour with a tendency to be more necrotic. The presence of PR in many of these tumours suggests a possible role for hormone therapy where total resection is not possible.