[Steroid receptors in human pathology. Foreword (author's transl)]

After definition of the steroid receptor concept, the different steps of steroid hormone action in the target cell which precede and succeed to the binding of hormone to its receptor are discussed. The different medical applications of steroid hormone receptors are then briefly reviewed such as the assay of steroid receptors in hormone dependant cancer, the understanding of receptor diseases and of antihormones, action, radio-imaging, radio-receptor assay and specific killing of cancer cells containing high level of receptors with bifunctional agents.