Estrogen and progesterone receptors in normal and malignant vulvar tissue

Cytoplasmic receptors for 17 beta-estradiol (ER) and progesterone (PR) were measured in vulvar carcinomas. Tissues from 12 patients were examined. 5 of the vulvar carcinomas had detectable amounts of ER of whom 1 also had positive PR. Tissue samples from normal vulvar skin in 9 of the same patients were also examined for ER and PR activity. 3 had positive ER only and 1 had both ER and PR activity. The concentration of ER in cancer tissue showed a binding capacity of 2-23 pmol/g cytosol protein. In receptor-positive normal vulvar skin the binding capacity of ER ranged between 4 and 10 pmol/g cytosol protein. The binding capacity or PR, positive in 1 vulvar carcinoma and in 1 normal skin sample, was 12 and 10 pmol/g cytosol protein, respectively.